The Golf Swing Blog - Golf Instruction and Golf Lessons for Golfers

The 30 Minute Golf Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:13:00 +0000

The end of the golf season is approaching for many Golfers. As most Golfers in North America and Europe start to clean their clubs before putting them away in storage for the winter (you do clean them … don’t you?), the question that must be asked is: Did you have fun playing golf this past summer?

If your answer is yes. Excellent – that’s what it should be – then there’s no reason for you to read any more of this article.

Yet, if it’s no. Then there needs to be a follow-up question – Why didn’t you enjoy golf this summer?

As many Golfers start each season with hopes of playing better than the year before – many end the season not seeing the results they were hoping for.

So the question now becomes – what hindered you from seeing these improved results?

Was it that you didn’t play enough?

Was it that you didn’t practice enough?

Was it that the golf lessons that you thought were going to help – really didn’t help?

If it was the question above (about golf lessons) - Was it that you reverted back into old habits and regardless of what you tried to do – you couldn’t get out of them?

Each year, as spring approaches, many Golfers get excited with the thoughts that they’re going to play a lot of “Good Golf” during the summer. Yet, in many cases, you start playing a few rounds of golf in the spring; however those rounds became so frustrating – you decide that you’re going to take golf lessons before the season really kicks into gear.

Unfortunately, many Golfers fall into the trap of thinking that a Golf Instructor is a Golf Instructor is a Golf Instructor. I mean – “All Golf Instructors are equal. One is just as good as the other. Right?” And this misconception causes many frustrated Golfers that are looking for a little more consistency in their golf swing to go for the easiest, least expensive golf lesson option – the infamous 30 minute golf lesson that costs around $35. And – as a bonus - if you sign-up for 6 lessons – you get a discount … usually 6 lessons for the cost of 5.

What a deal!

This seems to be the most popular way Golfers get their lessons. Unfortunately, many of these Golfers are still just as inconsistent after their 6 lessons. I can’t tell you how many emails and phone calls we get each week from Golfers that have been taking this sort of lesson program for years – yet haven’t gotten any better. And are now on the verge of quitting because they don’t believe that they’ll ever improve.

Think of it this way: If you wanted to learn a language … say you were planning a trip to China and you wanted to learn Mandarin Chinese. So you signed up for 6 – 30 minute language lessons. Do you think that after those brief lessons that you would be able to say much more than “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?” – “Thank you” and/or “I’ll have the duck.”

It’s the same with 30 minute golf lessons. And I say this even though it will upset some fellow PGA Professionals who teach 30 minutes lessons. Yet, I have to be honest – 30 minute lessons don’t work. But, maybe, just maybe this will be the kick in the pants that some Instructors need to start moving towards 1 hour minimums. (If you’re a PGA Member that’s not happy with what I’m writing – please call me, I’d be happy to discuss it with you.)

So because I’ll probably get death threats and so forth directed to me – I better explain why I believe that.

You may be taking instruction from a talented Pro or even with the greatest Instructor in the world, someone that can help you to see and feel what you need to do better, along with helping you to make improvements in your golf swing. Yet, if you’re taking a 30 minute lesson and finally get the concept, the feel and the ability to do what your Instructor is asking you to do fairly quickly – 25 minutes into the lesson: then you have only 5 minutes for your Instructor to watch you do it by yourself.

Now, is 5 minutes enough time for you to make your golf swing consistent, repeatable, automatic and free from old habits slowly creeping back in? Hardly. As soon as that Instructor’s next lesson arrives and you move to another area of the range tee to continue your practice – within 2 or 3 swings you’re most likely going to slowly start reverting back to your old habits (a little more every swing) without even knowing it.

The new habit wasn’t ingrained enough while the Instructor was there to make sure that you’re able to repeat it swing after swing or there to make the little adjustments necessary after every swing that included the smallest speck of your old bad habit that slowly creeps back in a little more every swing and/or there to work with you to train you to be able to diagnose this yourself.

30 minutes is not even close to enough time!

Most Golfers (including Tiger, Annika, Phil, Jack, etc.) need an Instructor watching them for more than 30 minutes to make sure that they’re doing what’s necessary every swing. And those guys know their golf swing a heck of lot better than you and I know ours. Because it’s amazing how many Golfers take a 30 minute lesson, do well during the last few minutes of that lesson, then as soon as they go to practice on their own or go on the golf course – they play worse than before the lesson.

Has that ever happened to you?

Why? Well, the easiest answer is that you start to revert back to your old habits – but it’s even worse than that … you get stuck between your old habits and the new instructions that your Instructor just worked with you on. So if you’re depending on a 30 minute lesson once a week to help – you’re often going backwards.

Again, it’s like learning a foreign language: after 25 minutes of trying to say “Can you tell me where the bathroom is” in Mandarin … your language Instructor will finally say – “that’s it, you got it. Try it again.” Yet, as you practice saying it to yourself on the car ride home – even though you think you’re saying it correctly – you’re probably not saying it exactly as you did in front of your Instructor those last 5 minutes.

And as you keep practicing it – you’re continually getting farther and farther away from saying it correctly because your Instructor won’t be there to correct you until your next 30 minute lesson in 167.5 hours later (6 days and 23.5 hours). And how many times do you think a motivated student will be repeating that sentence the wrong way in those 167.5 hours?

Plenty!

Probably just as many times as you go over the golf swing and the corrections your Instructor worked with you on. So now, when you go out to the range to practice by yourself – you’re probably not swinging like you were in front of your Instructor at that 25 minute mark of your lesson. You’re probably reverting back to old habits – and there's no one there to let you know that you're ingraining even more bad habits into your golf swing?… or even worse – there's no one there that can help you relieve the frustration of getting stuck between the old and new.

How do I know this? Experience

The Experience I had as a Golfer growing up as I started my quest to become a Pro.

The Experience I had as a young Golf Professional that started out teaching 30 minute lessons (because that’s what Golf Professionals did and I didn’t know any better). Which I quickly changed to a 1 hour minimum.

The Experience I had with the number of Golfers that secretly came to see me because they didn’t improve with the Instructor at their home golf course. And listening to the stories of their frustrations over the time and money that they had wasted.

And now - The Experience of the last 10 plus years of speaking to 1,000’s of Golfers (each year) that have called GMS because they became so frustrated taking normal golf lessons and going through the scenario written above.

And as one gentleman (who inspired this article) recently put it: “I have been getting 6 – 30 minute lessons for approximately $200 – every year for the past 8 years, and have not improved one iota. I have calculated that I have spent $1,600 and wasted 8 years of golf. I had a friend that just started playing golf last year, he went to GMS this past spring – and is now beating me. He spent about the same amount of money as I did – yet he improved more in 3 months than I have in 8 years (96 months). Sign me up!”

The Monkey will ...…. well, just reread the article above to find out what the Monkey does

The Player knows that a sustained session with his/her Instructor is critical in order to be able to see Results that stick

Go ahead, Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

"I Went From A 28 Handicap To A 12!"

Jeff,

I just wanted to say hi and let you know that even though I couldn’t attend GMS the last couple of years, you guys are still helping me…what you teach works if we just stick with it.

I attended in 2004; 2005; 2006; 2007; I improved each year and my handicap went from a 28 to a 12 during this time. Golf was finally becoming fun.

Last couple of years I was unable to attend (I got married and she’s not a golfer yet) didn’t stay in touch, began to tinker with grip, set up, swing plane, and even with rhythm – started using a 3 count rhythm instead of tick-tock, gradually started playing like a Monkey again.

At the end of June I was in 14th place in my league out of 52 guys and I was averaging 45.4 strokes per round for 9 holes. I was very frustrated and not having much fun. I started thinking about GMS and checked my notes.

I stopped tinkering and started to focus on making a good PLAN, paying attention to where my club face was aiming, feeling balanced in my set up, making a good swoosh in my Rehearsal Swing, and only thinking about tick-tock when I swing.

I started playing better almost immediately.

In the second of half of my league I averaged 39.4 strokes per 9. I shot my all time best for 9 holes – a 36, I won the second half championship in my league and beat the first half champ for the season championship. Had several rounds of 18 in the high 70’s, I also won more skins than I ever have. Golf is fun again.

Hope to get my wife and another couple to attend GMS in the near future. Thanks again, and may I never again stop tick-tocking.

Mike K. – South Amherst, Ohio- Sent September 28th, 2009

Attended Tampa, Florida location on April 10th to 12th, 2007

"We Have Broke 100 Several Times!"

Kimberly S. and I took the class last spring in Amelia Island and would love to return before the end of this year. What is your schedule for October and November?

We would love to take the class again. We have each actually broke 100 several times!! Now we would love to reach 90!

Thanks,

Kim M - Ridgeland, South Carolina- Sent September 24th, 2009

Attended Amelia Island, Florida Location on April 27th to 29th, 2009

Click on any of the dates listed below to send an email request for more information

Upcoming Dates Golf Made Simple

Tampa, Florida

October 23rd to 25th - Tampa

October 27th to 29th - Tampa

October 30th to November 1st - Tampa

November 6th to 8th - Tampa

November 9th to 11th - Tampa

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Tampa, Florida location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Palm Springs/La Quinta, California

November 6th to 8th - La Quinta

November 9th to 11th - La Quinta

November 13th to 15th - La Quinta

November 16th to 18th - La Quinta

November 20th to 22nd - La Quinta

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Palm Springs/La Quinta location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Sotogrande, Spain (Europe)

December 4th to 6th - Spain

December 7th to 9th - Spain

December 11th to 13th - Spain

December 14th to 16th - Spain

December 18th to 20th - Spain

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Spain location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Phoenix, Arizona

November 6th to 8th - Phoenix

November 9th to 11th - Phoenix

November 13th to 15th - Phoenix

November 16th to 18th - Phoenix

November 20th to 22nd - Phoenix

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Phoenix location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Boca Raton, Florida

November 6th to 8th - Boca Raton

November 9th to 11th - Boca Raton

November 13th to 15th - Boca Raton

November 16th to 18th - Boca Raton

November 20th to 22nd - Boca Raton

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Boca Raton location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Click to see dates for other GMS locations:

Florida:

Amelia Island - St Augustine

California:	Virgina	Colorado
Lake Tahoe	Washington DC	Denver

Photos Of Newest GMS Locations

SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

La Quinta, California, USA

Almenara Golf Resort - GMS Spain (Europe) location

Sotogrande, Spain (just west of the Costa del Sol)

SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

La Quinta, California, USA

"The Evolution Of A Golfer"

Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 215- October 24th, 2007

"Why is it that it seems like some people that begin to play golf pick-it-up right away? Then before you know it, they’re breaking 100, busting through 90 and in less than 2 years – they’re in the 80’s for a short spell before moving into the 70’s in year 3 or 4.

On the other hand – Why is it that some people begin to play golf, make some progress, but then get stuck and don’t improve from that point? They start off like most people learning the game, taking baby steps towards improving and then wham – they hit a wall and stay there for the next 5, 7, 10, 20 years.

Which group are you in? 7 out of every 8 Golfers are …

Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here

By the way, the first Golf Made Simple DVD has been the #1 Selling Golf Swing DVD on Amazon.com. After years and years and offers upon offers from people that wanted to produce a DVD for us; we decided we wanted to do it our own way. We've created a DVD to help you become a Player, as opposed to all the other Monkey stuff that's already out there.

Our DVD - How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors is improvement ... GMS Style. What's GMS Style? It's a Results Based Approach as opposed to the Theories and Assumptions Based Approach that millions of Golfers struggle with year after year.

Are you ready to end the struggle?

Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

Or call us at 1 (888) 580 - 3635

GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Indoor Putting Drill - If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put GIW in the subject line.

Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: Tour Putting Square – and we'll email you how to use this game changing drill.

Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words 'Golf Improvement Weekly' in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'

Two New GMS Golf School Locations

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:57:00 +0000

"Two New GMS Locations - "Hello Europe"

We interrupt our regularly scheduled golf instruction article to make a special announcement. GMS is proud to announce the opening of 2 new GMS locations. We normally reserve this space to speak about ways for you to improve your golf game (and we’ll get back to that next week). However, every once in a while we need to make a special announcement.

Two New GMS locations that will knock your socks off! First, for Golfers in Europe (and North Americans, South Americans as well as people in Asia and Australia that like to travel) ... we're proud to announce GMS Europa! Yes, GMS has just signed an agreement to open in Spain. In Sotogrande in the southwest section of Andalucia. Look for more info below.

And here in the States - we also have a new location - we have upgraded our Palm Springs/La Quinta location to SilverRock Resort. As good as the Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta was - SilverRock Resort is even better. SilverRock Resort is so good - it's the home of the Bob Hope Classic PGA Tour event each January. And I have to say it is one of the most beautiful golf courses I have ever played!

To see how beautiful these golf courses are - the photos in this issue are dedicated to our two new locations.

GMS Europa!

As many Golfers may ask why open a location in Spain - the answer is based on the number of Golfers that travel more than 8 hours from Europe to see us here in the States. And it just so happens that back in March, we were contacted by this fantastic resort in the South of Spain (on the Mediterranean Sea just west of the Costa del Sol), about GMS starting a program at their resort.

Almenara Golf Resort has 148 rooms, multiple restaurants, 27 holes of the finest golf, plus one of the most extensive practice facilities I have ever seen. At the practice facility ... in addition to the beautiful turf, multiple target greens, private teaching area and 3 short game practice greens .... it also has 3 regulation practice holes (one Par 3 & two Par 4's).

How good is Almenara Golf Resort? Well, it shares the same property and is a hip-high wedge away from Valderama Golf Club (home of the 1997 Ryder Cup - do you remember watching that on TV) Almenara Golf Resort ... such a great facility - in a fantastic location!

GMS Palm Springs/La Quinta

Although we're going on our 3rd year in La Quinta (our 6th year in California), we had the opportunity to move from a great golf course to an even better golf course. Not just the quality of the golf course - we've also upgraded the quality of the practice facility.

SilverRock Resort (as you'll see from the photos) is amazing. Since 2007, it has been the host site for the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic each January. So you know the golf course has to be nice.

The practice range at SilverRock is just about as good as it gets - it's huge and we have our own private practice area on the backside all to ourselves!

What a golf facility!

To read more about these 2 excellent facilities - check-out The Buzz below by scrolling down.

Go ahead, Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

"From A 21.5 Handicap To A 15.8!"

Just to let you know I really enjoyed my program with James and happy & proud to let you know my handicap is now a 15.8. Prior to my work with my GMS Instructor, James ... it was a 21.5!

Mike K. – Renton, Washington - Sent August 26th, 2009

Attended Phoenix , Arizona location on April 17th to 18th, 2009

"They Want Me To Give Them Lessons!"

Jeff,

I spoke with you a couple of weeks ago about my iron play. I was consistently hitting the 8 - 9 & PW short or to the right (at a right angle actually). Since our talk I have moved the ball forward in my stance & have had much better luck

Today, I played in a tournament and the other three in my group wanted me to give them lessons on getting on the green! I told the group - "I don't do lessons, but go to GMS & you can chip like this too."

I also won most fairways hit in my 9-hole league last Tuesday - 7 out of 7.

Thanks for your help,

Rita Skog - Fairfield, Connecticut - Sent August 20th, 2009

Attended Boca Raton, Florida Location on April 3rd to 5th, 2009

Click on any of the dates listed below to send an email request for more information

Upcoming Dates Golf Made Simple

Tampa, Florida

October 23rd to 25th - Tampa

October 27th to 29th - Tampa

October 30th to November 1st - Tampa

November 6th to 8th - Tampa

November 9th to 11th - Tampa

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Tampa, Florida location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Palm Springs/La Quinta, California

November 6th to 8th - La Quinta

November 9th to 11th - La Quinta

November 13th to 15th - La Quinta

November 16th to 18th - La Quinta

November 20th to 22nd - La Quinta

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Palm Springs/La Quinta location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Sotogrande, Spain (Europe)

December 4th to 6th - Spain

December 7th to 9th - Spain

December 11th to 13th - Spain

December 14th to 16th - Spain

December 18th to 20th - Spain

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Spain location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Phoenix, Arizona

November 6th to 8th - Phoenix

November 9th to 11th - Phoenix

November 13th to 15th - Phoenix

November 16th to 18th - Phoenix

November 20th to 22nd - Phoenix

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Phoenix location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Boca Raton, Florida

November 6th to 8th - Boca Raton

November 9th to 11th - Boca Raton

November 13th to 15th - Boca Raton

November 16th to 18th - Boca Raton

November 20th to 22nd - Boca Raton

To see dates beyond those listed above for our Boca Raton location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Click to see dates for other GMS locations:

Florida:

Amelia Island - St Augustine

California:	Virgina	Colorado
Lake Tahoe	Washington DC	Denver

Photos Of Newest GMS Locations

SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

La Quinta, California, USA

Almenara Golf Resort - GMS Spain (Europe) location

Sotogrande, Spain (just west of the Costa del Sol)

SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

La Quinta, California, USA

Two New GMS Locations!

Spain - I love Spain, I love Europe, I love Tapas, and I absolutely fall head over heels for Spanish Wine.

Now I'm absolutely gaga over golf in Spain.

I, as most people that watched the 1997 Ryder Cup played in Spain at Valderama Golf Club - was mesmerized by the beauty of the golf course and the scenary that surrounded Valderama - the Mediterranean, the hills, the olive groves, the impossibly blue sky.

Well, our newest GMS location is about a hip-high sand wedge away from Valderama. Almenara Resort located in Sotogrande includes the Hotel Almenara, a world class spa, 2 pools (indoor & outdoor), sauna, steam rooms, restaurants, etc. Plus, Sotogrande includes a marina on the Mediterranean with shops, cafes and restaurants, along with 5 golf courses including the world famous Valderama Golf Club (1997 Ryder Cup).

Just imagine your morning session working on your golf game at our fantastic practice facility - then going to the clubhouse for lunch, as you sit on the veranda with your Instructor gazing out over the Mediterranean Sea enjoying yourself.

Then for dinner - you could either eat at the resort (hotel or marina) or hit the incredible tapas bars in either one of two small towns (one on the beach, but both within minutes of the resort). Trust me - I'm going on experience. And if your experience is half is as good as mine was ... you're in for a phenomenal time!

To read more about our location in Spain, you can go to the page on the GMS website: www.GolfMadeSimple.com/golf-school-spain.html - where we have more info including a map to pinpoint our new location in Spain!

To hear more about Spain, the airport to fly into, sidetrips, more about the resort, etc. - give us a call. We're all too happy to discuss one of our most favorite places on this planet.

1-888-580-3635 (US & Canada) - 001.904.460.8355 (International)

Palm Springs/La Quinta, California - SilverRock Resort Golf Club

We have also upgraded our golf course in La Quinta, California. If you have been around GMS for a while, you have definitely heard me speak and write about my love for the Palm Springs/La Quinta area. Being an East Coast person - growing up I was always transfixed on the television watching the PGA, LPGA and Senior PGA Tour events played in the desert in November, December, January and February. As the Northeast was gray, wet and nasty - there was Jack, Arnie, Gary and Tom (Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Watson), playing in the most ideal conditions imaginable.

So when I was able to make my first trip out to La Quinta to set-up our GMS location there a couple years ago - I was able to cross off another line on the "Bucket List". And now as we transition GMS from The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta (host to 4 PGA Tour Skins Games) to SilverRock Resort (host to the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic) - I have to say that in a short period of time ... GMS is aligned with the best golf course (non-private) in the Coachella Valley!

SilverRock Resort is absolutely beautiful. Just look at the pictures.

Most of our Golfers stay at the new and beautiful Embassy Suites in La Quinta. We stay here whenever we've traveled to La Quinta and I must say it's really nice. The suites are fantastic. Plus, the breakfast in the morning and the Manager's Happy Hour in the afternoon are excellent!

And an additional bonus with our new location is that the hotel is now literally 1 mile from SilverRock Resort. All you do is go straight out of the hotel, make a left, go past Arnold Palmer's restaurant ... and you're there in 2 minutes.

The location of the hotel is so convenient. It's situated right across from the Old Town La Quinta shopping area which features shops and restaurants – with Arnold Palmer’s restaurant just down the street. Plus, a couple of miles away is LG's Steakhouse which offers the best Filet Mignon we've ever had. In fact, we went back two nights in a row just for the steak. The fish eaters from the previous night turned into carnivores the 2nd night. LG's is incredibly good and highly recommended.

If you have never been to the California desert – you're missing something special. Now, it wouldn't be my choice of locations in June through September (we actually migrate our La Quinta location north to Lake Tahoe during this time), however from November through May – I couldn't think of a more perfect place to be. I guess that's why so many professional golf events are played in this area – from the Skins Game to The Bob Hope to The Dinah Shore.

The biggest tournaments in the world call the La Quinta/Palm Springs area home – if you haven't been there – you should make a trip to see why. All I can say is that I never understood the allure to this area until I made my initial trip out there – now I can't get it out of my mind!

To see and read more on our new location at SilverRock Resort - go to:

www.GolfMadeSimple.com/palm-springs-california-golf-schools.html

For more information on available dates at any of our GMS locations: call me or email.

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

"Only A Small Percentage Of Golfers Will Improve"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Why we call a frustrated Golfer a Monkey has nothing to do with one’s ability or the scores that you shoot. It has to do with how a Golfer goes about the learning and improvement process. I’ve seen Players that are just starting to break 100 and I’ve seen Monkeys that shoot in the low 80’s. The difference is that the Monkey will become frustrated because they’re in the same scoring range for an extended period of time – while the Player is excited because they’re seeing improvement every time they step on the golf course.

The Monkey uses the same bad habits over and over expecting to improve. The Monkey continually goes to the practice range without a PLAN banging ball after ball in rapid fire succession expecting to hit straighter shots. The Monkey hits their 3 wood for their second shot on every Par 5 regardless of the situation expecting to get closer to the green. The Monkey tries every new tip and gimmick hoping to find something magical.

The Player on the other hand has a PLAN. They know what the Strengths and Weaknesses of their golf swing are. They know how to practice their Driver. They know how to practice their fairway woods. They know how to practice their wedges to create backspin. They know how to practice their putting for 45 minutes without it becoming as boring as watching paint dry.

What’s the difference between a Monkey and a Player? It’s how they go about learning to play better. The Monkey gets stuck in a scoring range and then will try anything in desperation to start improving again – though often times they become more and more frustrated. The Player sees and feels continual improvement – the Player often has other Golfers asking them how they’ve improved so fast.

For example: when the Monkey wants to improve their Driver; they go to the driving range to hit ball after ball towards the middle of the range. And this Golfer will often hit the ball well enough to feel that they had improved. Yet, the next time on the golf course – reality sets in – and you’re not hitting your Driver as well as you did on the driving range.

Why does this happen so frequently to the Monkey? Why can the Monkey hit it so well on the range and then when they go to the golf course ….. well, let’s just say it doesn’t go as well. While the Player often hits their Driver as well and in fact, many times they even hit their Driver better on the golf course.

When the Player wants to improve their Driver; they also can go to the driving range. Though, they have a PLAN that they’ll stick with. Part of that PLAN is that the middle of the range isn’t a target. Why? Because the middle of the driving range isn’t as defined as the golf course. When’s the last time you saw a fairway with the middle as wide as the middle of the driving range? Also, when have you ever seen the middle of a driving range include water, trees, fairway bunkers and other assorted distractions such as houses?

The Player hits their Driver to different targets just like they do on the golf course. And the Player that’s really taking their game to the next level is the Player that makes their targets on the driving range – smaller than the targets that they’ll see on the golf course. The Monkey does the complete opposite by making a target on the driving range that’s over twice as big as the target they’ll have on the golf course.

No wonder the Monkey gets frustrated on the golf course!

The Player uses a PLAN to make ‘fairways’ on the driving range. I say ‘fairways’ as opposed to the ‘fairway’ because as the Monkey just keeps hitting to the middle of the range – the Player is constantly changing their targets. Why? Well, is every golf hole straight and over 100 yards wide like the driving range?

You have the talent to be a Player. You know it and I know it. The problem is that you might be going at it like a Monkey.

The Monkey will read the above and say ‘I know what I’m doing, I’m so close to improving – I just need to hit more balls to become more consistent’

The Player knows that Tiger, Annika, Jack, Lorena and every successful Player has a PLAN that doesn’t include just banging golf ball after golf ball into the middle of the driving range.

Are you happy with your progress? Do you have a PLAN other than just banging golf ball after golf ball into the middle of the driving range?

Go ahead, Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Indoor Putting Drill - If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put "Blog" in the subject line.

Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: "Blog" – and we'll email you how to use this game changing drill.

Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the word "Blog" in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'

New GMS Locations!

There’s so much to talk about, but I only get a limited amount of space to write – so I don’t know how much I can tell you in this issue. But it’s all exciting news, not just for us, but for you also. From the surveys that we have taken – the #1 thing that gets the people that follow GMS the most excited is new locations.

And we have a couple more that we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks. One will be in a similar location as a present GMS location – yet, at an even higher level golf course. I mean – this is a fantastic golf course! What is it? I can’t tell you yet. First we must send out a special email to all our GMS Alumni to announce this location to them. Then we’ll announce it to everyone else.

Please don’t get upset at us for taking care of our Golfers first – we just like doing it the exact opposite of the cell phone companies who care more about new subscribers than the ones who have been with them for years. We take care of our Golfers and if you’re not a GMS Golfer yet – trust me, we’ll take care of you when you become one.

The other new location? Well … let’s just say that this is going to be even bigger than big. We’re finalizing plans – however, once it’s finalized – it’ll just open up the world to our offerings.

GMS Golfers – be on the lookout for an email or two in the next couple of weeks about these new locations as you’ll have first chance at available dates. After which time, we’ll announce these 2 new locations to the world!

Current GMS locations: Florida - Tampa, Boca Raton, St. Augustine, Amelia Island. California - Palm Springs/La Quinta, Lake Tahoe. Arizona - Phoenix. Washington DC. Colorado - Denver

For more information on available dates at any of our GMS locations: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or email IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

"The Best Way To Practice Your Golf Swing"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:51:00 +0000

If you're looking to improve your golf game and understand how a Player practices (as opposed to how a struggling Golfer practices) - read the below paragraphs and fill in the blanks as they pertain to your golf game. Then below that section – we’ll explain how you can use your answers to improve your golf game, golf scores and golf swing.

The worst part of my game is _______. If I wanted to improve this part of my game, I should _______.

In the next week, I’m going to devote ___ hours to working on the worst part of my game that I listed above. I’m going to go to _______ (name of golf course/driving range) to practice improving that part of my game. First I’ll get warmed up by _______ . Then I’ll get into trying to improve this part of my game by working on _______ (what part of that swing should you work on first).

I will then practice doing this for about ___ minutes. Then I’ll move on to ________ (another part of that swing). And I’ll practice that for ___ minutes or until I feel satisfied with my progress.

Once you feel that you made improvements (a couple of days or weeks later), you must ask yourself the same questions again and work on the next part of your game that's holding you back from consistency.

Then the next time you go out on the golf course, you must determine if you improved the worst part of your game. Now what's improvement? Well, if you say that your Driver is the worst part of your game because you lose 4 golf balls each round ... and after practicing using the system above – you only lose 2 golf balls the next time on the golf course – that’s improvement. Anyone that doesn’t think that that’s improvement – will never allow themselves to improve.

You’re looking for improvement – not perfection!

Has anyone ever used a sheet of paper to write down the above practice PLAN or something similar? Or do you do what the typical Monkey does? Which is to just go to the practice range when you get the urge, buy a bucket of golf balls, start with your wedge and move to your 7 iron and then to your 5 iron and then to your Driver (for at least half the bucket of balls).

Or do you wait till the last 30 or 45 minutes before your round to practice hitting golf balls before going to the 1st tee?

Most successful Athletes/Golfers have a PLAN to improve. They know what they need to work on. And they set aside time to do it. For example – do you think that Lance Armstrong just got on his bicycle and started pedaling when he went out to practice? Or did he sit down and figure out what his practice schedule should be for each day of the week?

How about Roger Federer the tennis player? Do you think he just goes to the court to practice a few serves, then volley with another tennis player and then maybe play a set or two? Or does he look back on what he needed to improve on from his last match and then worked exclusively on that until he felt good about it.

And of course Tiger. Do you think he has a PLAN? Well, maybe you could blame Tiger’s early exit from the British Open on his wayward Driver. I guess Tiger did, because when he came back for 3 events in a row (two 1st’ place finishes and a 2nd place) his Driver was much improved. Do you think he came up with a practice PLAN to improve his Driver for those 3 events?

And now that he felt that his putter let him down at his 2nd place finish (the PGA Championship), does anyone want to bet against Tiger’s putting in his next event? Why are we probably going to see improvement in his putting? Because he probably has a practice PLAN all set-up to make sure his stroke is better in his next tournament.

Maybe Tiger doesn’t say exactly word for word what I wrote above (where you fill in the blanks about your game), but I’m sure it’s pretty darn close. How do I know? Because Tiger has a practice PLAN. And that’s how you set one up.

We could get into any sport with just about any of the great ones that have succeeded in that sport and you’ll probably find a common link amongst their practice routines. Meaning:
• The setting up a practice PLAN based on improving their weaknesses
• How they stay focused on that one thing they most need to work without skipping around to other tasks
• That they continue to practice that task until they're satisfied with their improvement and then determine their next weakness to improve

The concept the majority of Golfers use to improve – “Oh, I’m just going to go hit some golf balls.”

If you set-up a practice PLAN: Do you think that that you would improve more than if you didn’t set up a practice PLAN? If your answer is that you would accomplish more – then why aren’t you doing it?

I do know why many Golfers don’t practice. And I’d love to say it, but I having a feeling many Golfers would be offended if I do. So I’m going to watch my tongue. Yet, if you’re the kind of Golfer that doesn’t want to use the “Oh, I never practice” excuse to brush off your bad shots – then I suggest that you set-up a practice PLAN.

Now before we’re bombarded with emails saying – “Well, how do I set-up a practice PLAN?” I suggest that you go back to the very top of this article. Highlight the 2nd through 5th paragraph, hit Control (Ctrl button) and the letter "c" to copy (or right click your mouse and select copy). Then open Microsoft Word and hit Control and the the letter "v" to paste (or right click your mouse and select paste).

Type your answers in the blanks. Print the document. And then put it in your wallet or purse so that it bugs you every day you don’t practice what you typed in. The first step in a practice PLAN is to determine what you need to work on. The second step is to get your butt out there and do it. 8 out of every 8 Golfers want to improve – however, unfortunately 7 out of every 8 Golfers reading this won’t do what’s suggested. They’ll read this, think that it’s too simple to do – and they won’t do it.

Well, it may be simple, but it works. The old phrase states – “A long journey starts with the first step.” And the old New Jersey lottery used to advertise – “You gotta be in it to win it!” Well, regardless of whichever scripture you follow – the message clearly states that you need to somehow start the process. And that’s what those paragraphs at the top are doing for you. It’s helping you start the process.

The Monkey either goes to the range and hits too many balls without a defined purpose or they just don’t go to the range

The Player has their practice all mapped out for them before they get to the range – that’s why we call it a practice PLAN

Go ahead, Be A Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

GMS Bonus Material

New GMS Locations!

There’s so much to talk about, but I only get a limited amount of space to write – so I don’t know how much I can tell you in this issue. But it’s all exciting news, not just for us, but for you also. From the surveys that we have taken – the #1 thing that gets the people that follow GMS the most excited is new locations.

And we have a couple more that we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks. One will be in a similar location as a present GMS location – yet, at an even higher level golf course. I mean – this is a fantastic golf course! What is it? I can’t tell you yet. First we must send out a special email to all our GMS Alumni to announce this location to them. Then we’ll announce it to everyone else.

Please don’t get upset at us for taking care of our Golfers first – we just like doing it the exact opposite of the cell phone companies who care more about new subscribers than the ones who have been with them for years. We take care of our Golfers and if you’re not a GMS Golfer yet – trust me, we’ll take care of you when you become one.

The other new location? Well … let’s just say that this is going to be even bigger than big. We’re finalizing plans – however, once it’s finalized – it’ll just open up the world to our offerings.

GMS Golfers – be on the lookout for an email or two in the next couple of weeks about these new locations as you’ll have first chance at available dates. After which time, we’ll announce these 2 new locations to the world!

For more information on available dates at any of our GMS locations: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or email IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

"The Golden Rules Of The Golf Swing"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:44:00 +0000

What movement in sport has more to-do’s, along with more not-to-do’s than the golf swing? In the golf swing we have the Golden Rules like: we need to “shift our weight” – yet not “sway”. In the golf swing we need to “cock our wrists” – yet not “flip our wrists”. In the golf swing most Golfers will tell you that you can’t lift your left heel on the back swing (right handed Golfer) and yet, if you don’t lift your heel – many don’t have the flexibility to make a “perfect” shoulder turn.

So how do you “shift your weight” without "swaying"? And how do you “cock your wrists” without “flipping your wrists”? And how come it was alright for Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to lift their heel on the backswing – yet you’re not allowed to?

Why are there so many dang rules when swinging the golf club?!!!

One of the best pieces of advice that a Golfer should listen to is that there are no Golden Rules as far as how to swing a golf club. Although, I would say that if there was anything close – it would be: that the direction your club face is pointing when it hits the golf ball is more important than anything else than you have ever heard or will ever hear about – that is … if you want to be in control of the direction the golf ball flies.

See, we get so overwhelmed with all these “Golden Rules” on what we need to do to hit a golf ball – that we bog ourselves down. It’s almost as if you have so many thoughts of what you need to do correctly before hitting the golf ball – that you have very little chance of consistently hitting a good shot.

Yet, the concept of a good golf shot comes down to one important factor when using a Results Based Approach – “The golf ball will go in the direction my club face is pointing when I hit the golf ball.”

And although there are many that will say – “Well yes Marc, that is true. But in order to do that you need to have all these other Golden Rules happen.” To which I believe my response would be – how many of the same exact Golden Rules do Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus share? How many of the same Golden Rules do Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk share? And Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam?

Do these golf swings that are mentioned above look exactly the same? Or lets put it another way – if you were to put a bag over the head of each Golfer (so you couldn’t tell who it was – made Mickelson play right handed or the others play left handed), even the most casual Golf Fan would be able to tell which is Tiger’s swing and which is Jack’s swing. Meaning Tiger doesn’t have the same exact Golden Rules as Nicklaus. And Mickelson doesn’t have the same exact Golden Rules as Cink. Etc., etc., etc.

What Golden Rules are you applying to your golf swing right now? And who told you about those Golden Rules? Did you read about one of Sergio’s Golden Rules in a golf magazine and decided it needs to be one of your Golden Rules? If so, why? How do you know that Sergio’s Golden Rules apply to your golf swing? And what’s worse, maybe you’re already doing that Golden Rule well in your golf swing (but not know it), so now when you apply it to your golf swing – you’re overdoing it. Which could cause even more problems in your golf swing!

Here’s a Drill using a Results Based Approach for you to do:

Take out a wedge and hit a golf ball 10 yards. After the shot – determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended.

If you hit it solid, hit a golf ball 30 yards. After the 30 yard shot – determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended. If it wasn’t as solid or as straight as the 10 yard shot – go back to the 10 yard shot and try to find out what you did differently (besides making a longer back swing) and hit another good shot from 10 yards.

After you hit another solid 10 yard shot - go back to the 30 yard shot and try to feel what you’re doing different in your swing. When you do hit a good 30 yard shot ….

Then hit a 60 yard shot. After that shot - determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended. If not, go back to the 30 yard shot and try to find out what you did differently. If you did hit the 60 yard shot well – go to 90. Then follow this process until you’re taking full swings.

Why will this drill help you?

It’ll help you in many ways. The first is that most Golfers try to determine what’s wrong with their golf swing primarily after taking full swings. Yet, that swing happens so fast and your arms and body are moving at a speed that doesn’t allow many Golfers to feel what they’re doing during the swing. By starting with these small swings – you’re better able to pinpoint what’s happening in your golf swing at different points in your swing.

So now you can narrow down where the problem is in your golf swing instead of just taking one full swing after another and pretty much guessing what’s wrong. And believe it or not – your guesses may be heavily influenced by the Golden Rules you saw on the golf channel last night or in the last issue of a golf magazine. Which probably has nothing to do with your golf swing – yet because you’re looking for answers – they sound like the thing you should try next.

Second – many of the problems that 8 out of every 10 Golfers have in their golf swing happens during the time period when the club head is lower than your shoulders. Yet, 8 out of every 10 Golfers are working on something to fix a perceived problem that’s happening above their shoulders. Remember, the problem you perceive at the top of your golf swing could be caused by something happening when the club is lower than your shoulders.

Which is another way of saying that too many Golfers are working on trying to fix an “effect” vs. what they should be doing – working on fixing the “cause”.

So by starting with small golf swings and working your way up – you’ll be determining (using a Results Based Approach) where your problem is occurring in your golf swing. Unfortunately, it’s been pounded into the heads of many Golfers that improving your golf swing is all about taking full swings. And yes, you need to take many full golf swings on the golf course. Yet, the best way to fix your full swing isn’t just by practicing full swings.

The teaching method I’m introducing to you above is a Results Based Approach of finding out where in your golf swing your swing is breaking down. It shows that if you hit your wedge well with the 10 yard shot and you hit the 30 yard shot well and the 60 yard shot well and then mess up the 90 yard shot (which to many would be between a ¾ and full swing) – it shows that you’re doing something bad in your golf swing somewhere in the area where your body and club passes through 60 yards as you go to a 90 yard backswing. Which you’re also probably doing at that point of your golf swing while hitting your Driver using a full golf swing – yet, you probably won’t detect this happening while hitting full Drivers because it happens too fast for many Golfers.

How do I know this works? Because using this Results Based Approach we’ve been able to display at least 2 testimonials every week in Golf Improvement Weekly for the last 284 Issues and are displaying 100’s more on the www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. When’s the last time you had the pleasure of telling anyone about how well you’re playing and how good you feel about your golf swing?

The Monkey will continue to work on hitting full shots until they “get it”

The Player finds where their golf swing is breaking down using a Results Based Approach

Go ahead, be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

"How To Achieve Your Golf Goals"

Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 208 - August 15th, 2007

"Would you be happy if you shot what might be your best score ever in an important event or tournament, then shot a disappointing score the next round? Would you celebrate or would you lament?

"This is the story of a Golfer that I’ll call Jim.

"Jim has been playing golf for a number of years and generally has played pretty good, though he always wanted to get better – probably just like you hope to do. Jim enjoyed playing and competing in his county’s Amateur Golf Tournament every year. Yet, there’s been this nagging feeling that he desperately wanted to …."

Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here

GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

The Buzz - Who's Thinking Of November In Palm Springs/La Quinta, California?

Who’s thinking about November and December already? Well, apparently many Golfers. Because we have never had so many Golfers sign-up for programs in November and December this far in advance. Though, thinking about it – it is a smart move. Signing up this early insures you get the dates you want – as opposed to having those dates sold-out. Because as you probably already know – we limit our classes to only 4 Golfers. So we frequently sell-out dates.

Like the locals know in areas like Florida and La Quinta/Palm Springs, California and Phoenix, Arizona – some of the best weather of the year is in the middle of October through the beginning of December.

And although there are people saying – “You’re thinking of November already? We haven’t even gotten to Labor Day yet!” Apparently there are more people than you think that are planning November dates because we already have more people signed up to attend our La Quinta location in November as of today – than we had actually attend in November of last year. So if we’re ahead of last year’s pace and its still 3 months away – imagine what it’s going to be like trying to get dates when we’re into October.

For pictures and more information – click here to go to: http://golfmadesimple.com/palm-springs-california-golf-schools.html

Or for more information on available dates at our La Quinta/Palm Springs, California location: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or email me at IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

"How Easy Do You Make Your Golf Swing?"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Here are 9 of the most popular golf swing thoughts that many Golfers have before hitting a golf ball:

1. Keep my head still
2. Left arm straight (right arm for left handed Golfer)
3. Shift my weight
4. Eye on the golf ball
5. Turn my shoulders
6. Don’t sway
7. Make sure to swing easy
8. Clear my hips on the way through
9. Follow through all the way

Now which of these 9 do you think about before and during each shot? What? All 9?! Before and during each shot? Seriously? Wow!!!

The question I must ask is: if you did think of these 9 thoughts (or something similar), how many can you expect to do “correctly” on each golf swing? Now, I’m not saying that I agree that these are important thoughts – in fact, I believe that many of the 9 can do more harm than good to a Golfer getting ready to hit a golf ball. But, besides that point – the question needs to be: How much can you think about during one golf swing and still be able to hit a good golf shot?

Now, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that women can think about more things at one time than men can. This is a point that my wife has expressed to me many times over the last 10 years while she gives me my list of “Honey Do’s”. Yet, even the greatest multitasking female couldn’t consciously think about and do all 9 of those swing thoughts (or even 4 of those thoughts) during a golf swing that takes less than 2 seconds!

And besides, if you did ask a Golfer that happens to be on a ‘Good Streak’ for a few holes on the golf course – “You’re swinging so well, what are you doing?” – The answer 9 times out of 10 is simply something to the affect of: “I don’t know. I’m just trying to swing smooth.” Yet, if you say to a Golfer that happens to be on a ‘Bad Streak’ on the golf course – “What’s going on? You’re not playing as well as usual. What are you doing?” – The answer 9 times out of 10 is usually something to the affect of: “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m probably thinking too much. I’m trying to … and also to … and on some swings I try to … Ohh, I just need to stop thinking about so much!”

Have you ever been in either of those situations yourself?

Now please, don’t misconstrue that I’m saying that if you only think of swinging smooth (and nothing else), that that will allow you to play your best golf ever. There might be more that goes into it. However, it’s a good place to start with rather than really screwing yourself up by trying to keep your head absolutely still while thinking of the 8 other things you need to do.

Yet, we need to make the distinction between ‘swinging smooth’ and ‘swinging easy’. I believe these are two totally different concepts. For example: For years, Golfers have marveled at how Fred Couples and Ernie Els have the ability to swing so smoothly. Yet, in typical Golfer talk – the description of their smooth swings have been misidentified by many Golfers marveling: “Ernie just swings so slow and easy and hits the ball a mile.”

Which is not true because Fred and Ernie don’t swing slow.

Couples – who still is in the top 10 in Driving Distance at 290 something yards a drive – has a swing speed around 120 miles per hour. There’s nothing slow or easy about 120 mph. Especially when the average male Golfer swings their Driver at speeds approaching 90 mph. And yet, after hitting a bad shot, this 90 mile per hour male Golfer will often say: “Oh, I tried to kill that one. I swung too hard. I wish I could swing as slow as Freddie Couples.” And the craziness about that statement is that you actually are already swinging 30 mph slower than Couples. Swing any slower and you’ll be 40 or 50 mph less than Freddie!

A Golfer that tries to swing “slow” and/or “easy” often throws off the timing of their golf swing more than they know. Which is the total opposite outcome of what they were hoping for. Whereas many Golfers will try to swing slower so that their timing (and consistency) will improve – the slowing down of your swing can cripple your golf swing in multiple ways. Too many ways to explain here – though we can get into two of the more frequent problems it can cause many Golfers.

A Golfer that’s trying to slow down their backswing could be causing more harm than good because of what happens much of the time when they transition from the back swing to the forward swing. If you’re swinging too slow on the way back – as you make the transition to now swing forward, you have two choices:

One - Continue to swing at the same speed and hit the golf ball ‘nowhere’. ‘Nowhere’ can be translated into – you’re not hitting the golf ball much distance at all because you have a very low swing speed. Yes, you maybe a little more accurate – however, you’re very short off the tee – making the hole very long and many times much more difficult.

Or

Two – Abruptly speed up your forward swing so that you can create some swing speed to hit the golf ball farther. However, many times when a Golfer transitions from a slow back swing to a fast forward swing – many Golfers have the tendency of having their arms and hands outrace their body – while other Golfers may have their body outrace their hands and arms. Whichever tendency it is for you – just know that it could really foul up your golf swing in a big way.

So, many Golfers get stuck in the game of changing their swing every other shot because of this. The first shot they try to swing slow and they hit the golf ball much shorter than the people they’re playing with. The next shot they want to hit the golf ball farther while maintaining a “slow and easy swing” – so they have a slow back swing and then to get a little more power on the forward swing - they swing hard at the ball. Which invariably throws off your timing, swing path, swing plane, blah, blah, blah and causes the golf ball to slice off into the trees, or causes you to pop the golf ball straight up in the air, or top it 50 yards or …. whatever else a golf ball can do to annoy you on the golf course.

So on the next swing this Golfer decides they rather stay in play than lose another golf ball – so you go back to the “slow, easy golf swing” for a few holes so that you can play: “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” Golf. Yet, after a couple holes of: “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” – which translates into hitting the golf ball short and taking 3 or 4 shots to reach the green – you try one more time to swing with a little more power and …. let’s just say you go right back to the slow and easy swing that allows you to play the unfulfilling game of “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” Golf.

Do you know anyone that plays that way?

For Golfers that want to gain extra yards (while still keeping the ball in play) – we can very easily help you increase your controlled club head speed using what we call – ‘Effortless Power’. We work with many Golfers (from around the world) helping them to smooth out their golf swings which allows you to create the sensation of having ‘Effortless Power’. And that ‘Effortless Power’ often gives you the feeling as if you’re “swinging easy”. Yet, in reality, you aren’t “swinging easy” – you’re ‘swinging smoother’ along with having more power, control and consistency!

And although most people reading this will never approach a swing speed of 120 mph with their Driver – you can still improve your distance (and consistency) by having your swing speed increase from the 80 mph range to the 90 mph range or 90 to 100 or 100 to 110 - while swinging even more smoothly than you are right now. Trust me, I’ve seen it many, many times where a Golfer has gained 20, 30, 40 , even 50 yards on their Drives and then remarked: “I can’t believe that I hit the golf ball that far. Wow! And it felt like I swung soooo easy!!”

The Monkey falls into the trap of trying to “swing slow and easy” and then gets into the battle between having no distance (but being straight) vs. trying to get more distance (but being inconsistent)

The Player knows that there’s a huge difference between ‘swinging smoothly with Effortless Power’ vs. “swinging slow and easy with no power”

Go ahead, be Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

Golf Schools by Golf Made Simple Inc. on Facebook

GMS Bonus Material

For anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: “Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing” to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It’s easy, it’s free and it’s a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Indoor Putting Drill - If you’d like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put ‘Blog’ in the subject line.

Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send an email to TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: ‘Blog’ – and we’ll email you how to use this game changing drill.

Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words ‘Blog’ in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - ‘How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors’

"Why Not A Consistent Golf Swing On The Course?" - Golf Improvement Weekly - July 28thy, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Issue #282

July 28th, 2009

Call Us Toll Free:
1(888) 580-3635

"Why Not A Consistent Golf Swing On The Course?"

“Why? Why? Why? – Why did I hit that shot? What was I thinking?!”

Have you heard that before? Well … who hasn’t let that pass through their lips after making a big mistake that might leave you with a snowman (an 8) on the scorecard?

It’s like – “where was my brain?”

Listen – golf courses are often designed to test a Golfer’s strategy versus being designed to test your golf swing. I’ll give you a perfect example: Tom Fazio has been heralded as quite possibly the top golf course architect in the world since the early 1990’s. Yet, as far I can recall, you really don't see a Tom Fazio course used for a major championship and rarely (if ever) used for a PGA Tour event. Why is that?

Many Golfers find his golf courses very challenging yet the Touring Pros would probably tear up many of his courses. Why is this?

I don’t believe most Fazio golf courses are designed to test your golf swing as much as they are designed to test your strategy. **I’ll get back to the basis of the article in a minute (this isn’t an article about Tom Fazio) – though I believe I can help relate this to your golf game because most Golfers have played a Fazio golf course** On most Fazio golf courses – he leaves a lot of room off the tee to hit the golf ball and his greens are notoriously large – which should make them both easier to hit.

Yet, even though Fazio fairways tend to be super wide – most Golfers have trouble hitting his fairways. This is because a great designer like Fazio knows that the extent of strategy most Golfers can muster is limited to aiming to the middle of the fairway. So to defend his golf courses - he creates angles and obstacles that makes hitting fairways more difficult to do. Or he designs a hole that allows you to easily be in the center of the fairway – yet makes sure that being in the center will make your shot to the green much tougher by toughening up the angle for your next shot.

Yet, many Golfers don’t think this is necessary to know until they become more consistent with their golf swing. Let me state it right here and now – if that’s your philosophy: You’ll never be consistent on the golf course because the challenges you face on each shot directly influences the consistency of your golf swing!

Have you ever said – “Why can I hit the golf ball so much better on the driving range than I can on the golf course?” Well if so – you better continue reading:

On the driving range you’re faced with just raking over the next golf ball and concentrating on your golf swing - on the golf course you’re faced with thinking about your golf swing in addition to all obstacles that you need to avoid. Of course it’s easier on the driving range – there’s nothing to worry about or obstacles that need to be avoided.

Which brings up an interesting question: why does the average Golfer struggle when they play a Tom Fazio course – yet, the PGA Tour doesn’t usually play his golf courses?

A big part of that might be that the Pro’s would eat many of those courses up. Not just because their golf swing is better – but also because the strategy of the PGA Touring Pro is usually far superior to the average Golfer. And I say this knowing that I’m going to hear many people say – “Well yeah, their strategy is better because they can execute that strategy more consistently because they have a better golf swing and know where the golf ball is going.”

That’s agreed – to a point.

Certainly it’s easier to keep to a strategy when you’re in better control of where your golf ball lands. However, whether you’re able to play to your strategy or not isn’t 100% reliant on how consistent your golf swing is. Yet, on the golf course, your golf swing is just about 100% reliant on having a strategy based on the level of your golf swing.

For example: I can take a Golfer that averages 95 on their golf course and have them score 89 without helping them with their golf swing or putting stroke once during that round. (Or a 105 Golfer and have them score 99 – or an 85 Golfer and have them score 79). I’ve done it countless times with Golfers I have worked with.

So if this is true – and it is: How can I do this? How can I help a Golfer instantly shave 6 strokes off their golf game (the first time meeting them) without once helping them with their golf swing?

To continue reading "Why Not A Consistent Golf Swing On The Golf Course" – click here

If you're looking for more consistency on the golf course - I urge you to continue reading.

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

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"I Have Improved 10 Strokes"

GMS - So it is now a little better than one year since my GMS clinic. My average score has improved by 10 strokes. At the Baltusrol course in NJ I hit a 38 on the front from the blue tees. I had two bad holes on the back, but still ended up with a low 80’s round.

Tempo and ball striking with a plan. Every time there isn’t a plan it works less.

I am 59 years old averaging 275 yards off the tee with occasional bombs over 320 yards. Same tempo. My wedge game is working and most iron shots are coming off the face well. I have hit 13 greens in regulation average over my last 4 rounds. Last week I eagled a 675 yard par 6 (non PGA approved I am sure). The best part of my new found game is how relaxed I am on the course at most times.

I am interested in course 2 so I can get to a 9 to 10 handicap.

Please let me know the scoop.

Thank you,

Mark G. - Glenn Rock, New Jersey - Sent July 22nd, 2009

Attended Amelia Island location on July 11th to 13th, 2009

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

"4 Pars In 9 Holes - Previously Pars Were Rare For Me!"

Jeff,

My experience with James was surely more than I had expected. I now know what most of my previous mistakes have been and how to correct them.

I played today with one of my regulars and the improvement showed by scoring 4 pars for 9 holes. Previously pars were rare for me. I can't remember ever having more that two in a single 9 holes and even one was a very good round.

Bill L. - Hudson, Wisconsin - Sent July 22nd, 2009

Attended Denver location on July 13th to 15th, 2009

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Golf Tips and Special Pricing For Tahoe!

Continuing from last week’s Buzz – we have already received some great golf tips (Best Golf Tips and Worst Golf Tips). So, thank you for everyone that sent them in over the past week. But, we want more. So please keep sending them in to GolfTips@GolfMadeSimple.com

If you missed last week’s GIW – here’s a little bit of what we wrote: So we’d like to start compiling a list of the worst Golf Tips Of All Time. Now, maybe this is a Golf Tip that helped a friend of yours, but when you tried it – you had bad results. It could be something you heard from an Instructor, or from someone at a cocktail party, or something you read in a magazine or on the Internet.

The key is that it's a Golf Tip that you have tried – not something that you heard, but just sounded stupid. It has to be something that you tried and caused you to actually start hitting the golf ball worse after doing so.

When you email this to us – you don’t have to include your name if you don’t want to. However, we would appreciate if you could describe the Golf Tip, what it was designed to help you fix and the results you encountered.

Saying that – if you’ve ever come across a Golf Tip that did help you – we’d like to hear about that also.

In a future GIW, we’ll write about the “winning” Golf Tip (and we’ll include your name only if you want us to), along with sending the “winner” a special prize.

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

***Also – Lake Tahoe Special***

Save $150 At Our Lake Tahoe Location!

Hope you’re having as good a summer as we are. If not, here’s something that might make you happy: We received a telephone call just the other day from the owner of The Lodge at Whitehawk Ranch (our Lake Tahoe location). Jerry wants to stimulate business in August and September – so he asked us - if he reduced the rates for their cabins by $50 a night – would that help to bring more people to his facility.

We said – ‘we think so.’

Now this isn’t a discount dreamed up by GMS – we’re doing very well, even better than 2008 (and 2008 was a record year for GMS). Yet, we received this offer from the The Lodge at Whitehawk Ranch and we’re going to pass over the savings to you.

So what does it mean? It means - that if you come for a 3 day GMS Program at our Lake Tahoe location (this August or September) and stay at the Lodge at Whitehawk (which is right on the golf course), because of Jerry’s generosity – you’re receiving $150 off the GMS Program.

Again, GMS has never discounted or run specials – we have enough demand from Golfers that we never have to do so – yet, when we’re offered a discount by one of our partners, we’ll pass that discount on to our Golfers.

For more information on available dates at our Lake Tahoe location: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or email me at IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

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Golf Improvement Weekly | Click Here

In This Issue...

Why Not A Consistent Golf Swing On The Course?
Dates Of Upcoming GMS Programs
"I Have Improved 10 Strokes!"
"4 Pars In 9 Holes - Previously Pars Were Rare!"
The Buzz - Golf Tips and Special Tahoe Pricing
GMS Bonus Material
GMS Quote - Tiger Woods Vs. Rocco Mediate

Click on any of the dates listed below to send an email request for more information

Upcoming Dates Golf Made Simple

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

Washington DC - Virginia

August 7th to 9th

August 11th and 12th

August 18th to 20th

August 21st to 23rd

August 25th to 27th

To see other available dates for our Washington DC Location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Lake Tahoe, California

August 10th to 12th

August 17th to 19th

August 21st to 23rd

August 24th to 26th

August 28th to 30th

To see other available dates for our Lake Tahoe location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Denver, Colorado

July 31st to August 2nd

August 3rd to 5th

August 7th to 9th

August 10th to 12th

August 14th to 16th

To see other available dates for our Denver, Colorado location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Click to see available dates for our other GMS locations:

Photos Of Recent GMS Classes

Eleanor M., Colin M.

Washington DC | July 21st to 23rd| 2009

Pruitt F., Richard C., Randall C.

Denver Colorado| June 1st to 3rd | 2009

Let's Just Say That Is One Happy Golfer!

Lake Tahoe, California| July 20th to 22nd | 2009

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Have you attended a GMS Program and would like your Photo?

Send an email to myplayerphoto@golfmadesimple.com
include your 'name, location and program dates'.

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"Tiger Woods Vs. Rocco Mediate"

Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 243 - June 18th, 2008

"Wow! Was that a fantastic golf match or what? Tiger and Rocco – Player e Player for 19 holes. That’s about as good as it can get.

But, I’m sure you’ve had your fill of hearing and talking about the match. Enough about them already - let’s get to your golf game. What could you take away from the US Open to help your golf game – and I’m not talking about one of Johnny Miller’s tips.

I believe that many people were rooting for Rocco because they could relate to him more than they could relate to Tiger. You don’t see Tiger struggling as much with his game, he makes shots that you could only dream of and he’s super long off the tee. And although Tiger has had to work and has worked harder than anyone on the planet to earn his superior skill – many people don’t see that and understand ...

Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

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Are you ready to end the struggle?

Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

Or call us at 1 (888) 580 - 3635

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GMS Bonus Material

Click to Forward Golf Improvement Weekly to a Friend

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

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Are You An Unsecure Golfer?

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:09:00 +0000

The building of a golf swing that will allow a Golfer to improve their consistency should be done one step at a time. Unfortunately many Golfers are not willing to accept the one step at a time process – they’re only satisfied when everything “clicks at the same time”. Yet trying to do too much at one time with your golf swing would probably give you the same results as a pile of money being invested in the stock market on October 9th, 2007. Meaning, you aren’t doing so well with what you invested in either venture.

Regardless of what you do in the future with your golf swing – I’ll leave the investment advice to others who are much smarter than I – it maybe a good thing to go back to some important basics once-in-a-while just to make sure you’re allowing yourself to make your best golf swing. And as many eager Golfers are now focused on swing plane, swing path, two lever golf swings, x factors and every other buzz term that has been dreamed up – the question many Golfers should have on the tip of their tongue is “when’s the last time I worked on the foundation of my golf swing?”

Because if those buzz terms are important in order for you to become a good ballstriker – you may have difficulty achieving them if your foundation isn’t stable.

Luckily, in my youth – starting after my Junior Year of High School and continuing for a couple years right after graduation – I was able to spend much of my days doing some construction work. And it didn’t take long to discover one eye opening detail: Roofers really appreciate it when a house has a solid foundation.

Meaning – if the lower part of the house is wobbly – the upper part of the house is even more wobbly. And because many of the roofers I met were still wobbly from the night before – the last thing they wanted was … well nevermind. The point is – think of your golf swing as if it were a house or tall building. If the bottom of your body isn’t secure (or out of balance) – what’s happening with the top half of your body?

So the question I pose to you today is: Is it possible that many of your swing faults are caused by an unsecure foundation?

And as obvious as that is – it isn’t obvious enough to millions of Golfers that struggle round after round, year after year, as they search for a glimmer of consistency. Listen, every Golfer can hit a great golf shot – the key however to playing consistent isn’t the ability to hit one-great-golf-shot-every-once-in-a-while. So yes, even with an unsecure foundation – you can hit a good golf shot. (Just as the stock market is down big time since October 2007 – it has had some good days). Though how many good shots in a row (consistency) can you hit with an unsecure foundation?

As all the smart people in the construction business know – if the foundation of the house isn’t secure – the top of the house is even less secure. And as (hopefully) all the smart people in the golf instruction business know: Your upper body is only as secure as your lower body allows it to be.

So the question that begs to be asked right this second is: How secure is your foundation? And the answer is: It’s probably just as secure as you are consistent. Or to put even more perspective on this, you could say: It’s probably just as unsecure as you are inconsistent.

So, as just about every Golfer that gets in a struggle with their golf swing starts to blame the much over used malady of – “I think I’m coming over the top” – could this “I think I’m coming over the top” problem be triggered by an unsecure foundation? If your bottom isn’t secure – wouldn’t that cause your top to be even more all over the place? And “all over the place” could translate into a “I think I’m coming over the top” golf swing.

This is not to say that all these bad things are caused by an unsecure foundation – it’s just to say: When’s the last time you checked your foundation? This is also not to say that a good solid foundation means not allowing your lower body to move – it has to move – movement is essential in a consistent golf swing.

Now, because I know I’m probably going to get a ration of “Well, instead of telling me what I’m doing wrong – why don’t you tell me what I need to do” emails. First – I’m not telling you what you’re doing wrong because most likely I’ve never seen your golf swing. At this time I personally only work with a handful of special clients - however, I’ve seen enough Golfers to know that many Golfers do have this problem. The other reason I’m bringing this up is that I’m seeing a disturbing trend in the Golf Instruction Kingdom of way too much emphasis being put solely on what’s going on at the top of the golf swing.

And I understand that it just sounds sexier when you’re talking to another Golfer that says: “Yeah, I’m working on bringing my club more from the inside.” Or – “I’m working on a bigger shoulder turn so that I can create more effortless clubhead speed.” I mean there’s not much glamour in saying: “I’m working on having a more secure foundation.” That’s like hearing a friend tell you about their trip last week to the Four Seasons in Maui. And when you’re asked what you did last week, you had to describe your trip to Tallahassee, Florida to help your In-laws paint their house.

Many Golfers are told to work on bringing the golf club down on the inside to prevent from “I think I’m coming over the top”. And regardless of how much a Golfer works on this “move” – many assuredly revert back to the “I think I’m coming over the top” movement. Why? Maybe because that movement that you’re trying to eliminate isn’t being caused by your movement at the top of your golf swing. Maybe it’s being caused by your lack of a stable foundation – which is causing your upper body to compensate, which could be causing you to create a “I think I’m coming over the top” golf swing.

Now Second – I can’t suggest what you need to do to fix this - if you are in fact having a foundation issue - for the same reason: I probably have never seen you swing. Though don’t fret – I think I do have a solution for this.

One of the great, great things a Golfer can do (regardless of if you have a bad foundation or good foundation), is to hit golf balls bare foot. It’s an incredible sensation. First, you quite possibly could discover a lot about your balance even before hitting a golf ball.

Remember, golf shoes are made for comfort. Which means – massive amounts of cushioning. That cushioning for many people doesn’t allow them to feel where their weight is on their feet. Why is that important? That’s part of your foundation!

Second – hitting golf balls without shoes can be an eye opening experience for some people. You may start to feel what exactly you’re doing with your body during your golf swing. Now, I don’t expect many Golfers to try this because I know a lot of Golfers will interpret this is as a stupid thing to do. So, for those Golfers that think its stupid – don’t do it. Though, for the Golfers that are curious – try it – I think you might find out more about your foundation in just a few golf swings than you have in all the years you have been playing.

And just in case you needed a little push – did you know that both Sam Snead and Seve Ballesteros both learned to hit the golf ball (and practiced that way for many years) bare footed? Sam Snead in the hills of Virginia and Seve on the beaches of Santander, Spain.

Or instead of hitting a couple of golf balls bare footed – you could try another method that was floated by me in an email from a Golfer that suggested a way of getting rid of the “I think I’m coming over the top” movement, he said that you could try to improve your swing by: “Slowing you rate of closure so that you wouldn’t be shifting your baseline so much because of your excessive forearm rotation and loss of pressure points – which would help you avoid blocks, hooks, slices and chunks.”

If I were you – I’d choose hitting a couple of golf balls without your shoes.

The Monkey doesn’t think much about their foundation, they’re too concerned with “the important things” in their golf swing

The Player knows that a solid foundation can help with a consistent golf swing

Go ahead, be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis

We have added our report on: “Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing” to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page. It’s easy, it’s free and it’s a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Indoor Putting Drill

If you’d like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put ‘Blog’ in the subject line.

Tour Putting Square

Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: Blog – and we’ll email you how to use this game changing drill.

Swing Drills & Core Training

To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words ‘Blog’ in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - ‘How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors’

"I Broke The 90 Barrier!"

Marc--

I was able to play my first round today after the GMS session in Lansdowne, VA. I am thrilled to let you know I broke the 90 barrier. I shot 44-42, no triples, 3 doubles, 5 pars and 10 bogies. Thanks to my new confidence around the green, I was down to 34 putts. I only had 2 GIR, but on three holes my ball striking is so much improved over 2 weeks ago, that I went off the back of the green on at least 3 holes. However, chipping back was no problem. Only had 1 bunker, on a par 3, and easily blasted out to the greenside rough just off the green (level 2 sand player), and then chipped to within 3 feet to save bogey.

Since this last GMS class, I am hitting between 1 and 2 clubs longer and playing with much more confidence.

Please forward this e-mail to Sam and let him know I am one happy PLAYER today.

Best regards,

Ed H - Lafayette, Pennsylvania - Sent June 7th, 2009

Attended Washington DC location on May 29th to 31st, 2009

"From A 19 To A 15 Handicap In 2 Months!"

Hi GMS,

I just wanted to say "hi" and tell you my game is getting better.

My handicap was a 19 and now it is a 15. I am getting on more greens in regulation and I can "feel" my good swing. I no longer have a day where I can never find the good swing. I am practicing more often and trying to warm up before I go out with some of the drills we were taught.

Hope all is well in Florida - Vermont is beautiful for the next few months - we will play a lot of golf.

Susan T - Braintree, Vermont - Sent June 17th, 2009

Attended Amelia Island location on April 20th to 22nd, 2009

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"Please Buy Golf Magazine"

Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 167 - July 12th, 2006

"So I'm sitting around and somehow a Golf Magazine gets thrown in my lap. "What's this?" I say. "It's the August Issue of Golf Magazine - the worlds most widely read golf publication" a friendly voice says. "Well why are you giving it to me?"

"I thought you might like to read it. I mean, everybody reads this magazine. They have loads of tips and the very best Golf Instructors in the world contribute to it. Have you ever read a Golf Magazine?"

"I try to forget about those Monkey Days of my youth!"

"Well there's an article in this magazine that you might like to read. It's called …. "

Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here

Click on any of the dates listed below to send an email request for more information

Upcoming Dates Golf Made Simple

Washington DC - Virginia

July 24th to 26th

July 28th to 30th

July 31st to August 2nd

August 4th to 6th

August 7th to 9th

To see other available dates for our Washington DC Location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Lake Tahoe, California

July 24th to 26th - Level 1.5

July 27th to 29th

July 31st to August 2nd

August 3rd to 5th

August 10th to 12th

To see other available dates for our Lake Tahoe location beyond the dates listed above Click Here

Denver, Colorado

July 27th to 29th

July 31st to August 2nd

August 3rd to 5th

August 7th to 9th

August 10th to 12th

To see other available dates for our Denver, Colorado location beyond the dates listed Click Here

Click to see available dates for our other GMS locations:

Florida:

Boca Raton - Tampa - Amelia Island - St Augustine

California:

Palm Springs/La Quinta

Arizona:

Phoenix

Photos Of Recent GMS Classes

Kaia J., Ruth M., Tom W., Len S.

Washington DC | June 5th to 7th| 2009

Gareth K., Dawn K., Gerri P., Jim C.

Boca Raton, Florida| May 15th to 17th | 2009

Bob S., Scott B.

Lake Tahoe, California| June 29th to August 1st | 2009

Have you attended a GMS Program and would like your Photo?

Send an email to myplayerphoto@golfmadesimple.com
include your 'name, location and program dates'.

There's Nothing As Good As A Golf Tip!

As you may have read in the last GIW – Marc wrote ‘Do You Take Golf Tips From Strangers’. And in many past GIW’s, he has written about how many Golfers have gotten worse after listening, reading or watching a Golf Tip. So to hear your feedback on golf tips - we’re looking for the Worst Golf Tip you have ever heard.

So we’d like to start compiling a list of the worst Golf Tips Of All Time. Now, maybe this is a Golf Tip that helped a friend of yours, but when you tried it – you had bad results. It could be something you heard from an Instructor, or from someone at a cocktail party, or something you read in a magazine or on the Internet.

Saying that – if you’ve ever come across a Golf Tip that did help you – we’d like to hear about that also.

In a future GIW, we’ll write about the “winning” Golf Tip (and we’ll include your name only if you want us to), along with sending the “winner” a special prize.

Email your entries to: GolfTips@GolfMadeSimple.com

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Are you ready to end the struggle?

Click here to purchase on Amazon.com

Or call us at 1 (888) 580 - 3635

Do You Take Golf Tips From Strangers?

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:30:00 +0000

After the longest hiatus that Golf Improvement Weekly has ever seen (2 months) – we’re back. Just as it maybe a good thing for Golfers to take a break from the game every-once-in-a-while to refresh your brain – GIW needed to do the same. Although GMS had a record year in 2008, and 2009 is actually ahead of 2008 – it’s been a hectic 9 months (with 3 new GMS locations opening), along with everything else. So, we just needed a break from writing.

So, just a few days ago when I still wasn’t writing – I amazingly became bored and started reading a forum on an internet chat room with the title of something like – “What I Don’t Like About Tiger’s Golf Swing” – where this supposed ‘guru’ that has adopted the title of “ITeachGolf” - listed everything he thinks is wrong with Tiger's golf swing.

And what’s funny is that I believe he wrote this just as Tiger was winning yet another golf tournament by shooting 13 under par.

His/her contention is that Tiger really doesn’t have a good golf swing – the only reason he wins is that he’s just the best athlete on the PGA Tour. And that my friends is just another reason why you should stay away from Internet chat rooms – unless you want: A) to laugh; B) to cry; C) to be able to say to yourself – “are there really people that think that way?”

This issue with Golfers wanting to improve their golf swing is something that myself and our company works with each day with multiple individuals that travel from around the world to come and see us. So yes, we specialize in golf swings. So when we see people that bring up nonsense like the above – it makes us cringe.

Yet, the scary aspect is that many people might read further into what this ‘closet guru’ has to say about Tiger’s golf swing and even start to use the techniques he suggests Tiger needs to use. And that scares me because I know many Golfers are so desperate to improve – that they’ll try just about anything. Remember when you were young and your Mom said “don’t take candy from a stranger?” Well, many Golfers have forgotten about the dangers of doing that.

‘Don’t Take Golf Tips From A Stranger’

That’s going to be the title of my new book. Yet, as much as you need to continually warn the young about the aforementioned candy from a stranger – It’s my duty to remind you to do the same with golf tips. It can be dangerous for the health of your golf swing.

For example: Last week I was walking through one of the many airports that I walk through each year (this one was LAX) - I really shouldn’t be telling you this because I told everybody in the office and my wife that I was hiking on the Robert Trent Jones Trail. I got to my gate, sat down in a chair to await my plane – and just 2 seats down from me, was a lady that was really into what she was reading – I had to look over to see what magazine she had.

So at closer glance, I could see that she was reading a golf magazine and particularly an article about improving her golf swing. Now, I’m not the kind of person that just walks up to someone else and starts a conversation – yet, I had just finished helping a fantastic gentleman (a pretty famous person) with his golf swing for 3 days at a beautiful golf course – so I was on a natural high and in a really good mood – so I couldn’t resist. I had to ask her what she was reading.

When she looked up at me with this – “Why are you bothering my?" look – I said, ‘I apologize, I’m a Golfer also. And I was just interested in what you’re reading.’

Well, I got more than I was asking for:

She went into a 23 minute briefing of what’s wrong with her golf swing. She then took out a pad of paper and pen and started sketching her swing plane and what her plane needs to look like. She then took the pen and started gripping it like a golf club to show me what her grip looks like and what the proper grip should look like. I was then told about how important it is not to sway on the backswing, why Sergio can’t win a major, and why she would never want to swing like Jim Furyk.

Once she came up for air – she then asked me about my game. I told her I don’t play as much as I’d like (which is true), I’m not as consistent as I’d like (who is) and I’d like to hit my driver 10 more yards (sounds like fun). She then asked me to grip the pen like it was a golf club to see my grip. I then found out that my grip needed to be adjusted. I didn’t have enough knuckles showing. And that I should try interlocking my fingers instead of overlapping. She then apologized because she really couldn’t judge my grip pressure because we were using a pen and not a golf club.

She then suggested that I could become more consistent if I improved my posture – that is even though she never saw me set-up to a golf ball – though that’s something that she read in one of her 3 golf magazine subscriptions and that she has been doing it herself. Although, she hasn’t gained any more yards since working on her posture – she is sure it’ll eventually start working.

I then learned that I could get more distance by turning my shoulders a little more – “have you ever tried the X Factor?” Yet again, it was something she read in a magazine or saw on television.

So what’s the point of this story? The point is that after I said ‘thank you for the advice’ – I asked my “new pro” what her average score was. And although everything she said was very convincing and she said it very eloquently and it really sounded as if she knew what she was talking about – she had yet to ever break 100. Now, there isn’t anything wrong with someone who has never broken 100 – we were all at that point one time or another.

However, when I did ask how long she has been playing and how many lessons she had taken and how many years she has been reading those magazines scanning for tips – all I can say is that I was shocked. Playing golf: 7 years; Lessons: 10 to 15 lessons a year; Subscriptions: 3 different golf magazines for about 6 years.

Now, I’m not shocked that this Golfer hasn’t broken 100 in 7 years – that’s not shocking, everyday we help Golfers who have been in that same situation. What’s shocking is that this Golfer has worked on a hundred million things in her golf swing and she’s still not getting any positive results. Yet, she continues to work on a hundred million things!

So I never said anything about what I do for a living, I just told her that I once heard a really good tip that I’ve used successfully in my game for many years. And that from what she had told me about her game – it might really help her. When she said – “sure, what is it?” I told her about “Tick Tock”. I then told her that if she was going to be successful using “Tick Tock” she had to do it every golf swing she made the next time on the golf course. I then gave her my email address (not my GolfMadeSimple.com email address) so that she could email me her results after the next time she was going to play – which was this past Sunday, July 5^th.

She wished me luck with my game and I wished her luck with her game as I reminded her not to forget the “Tick Tock” on every swing. And then I flew home and forgot about the whole conversation - not thinking anything would come of it.

July 5^th, 8:07 pm – incoming email: “Marc, thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re not going to believe this!!!! I broke 100 for the first time. I can’t believe it. A 96!!! I have never hit the golf ball so well. It was unbelievable – my friends kept saying to me that they never saw me play that consistent and stay so calm on the golf course. That was the best golf tip ever. Who told you that tip? I need to read more about that person’s methods! Thank you, thank you.”

I then wrote back using my GolfMadeSimple.com email address congratulating her on her accomplishment, explaining why “Tick Tock” was so valuable, why it probably helped her, along with some more encouragement, etc.

Now, why is it that this very nice person that wanted so desperately to break 100 couldn’t do it even with putting her heart and soul into it for 7 years, taking multiple sets of lessons, reading countless magazine articles, thinking she knew what she needed to work on (fancy terms like swing plane and lag and X factor) - yet in one brief, chance meeting she was able to break 100?

The Monkey will get lucky once-in-a-while taking Golf Tips From Strangers, but in the long run it will cause more harm than good

The Player works on simple techniques that create positive results

Go ahead, be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words 'Blog' in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'

What Causes Poor Golf Swings?

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:32:00 +0000

"Does Poor Balance Cause Poor Golf Swings?"

Would a Golfer with poor balance have a better or worse chance of having a consistent golf swing?

The obvious answer seems to be that the Golfer that doesn’t have good balance would have a more inconsistent golf swing than the Golfer that employs good, solid balance. So if that’s true – why haven’t you worked on your balance? If true – should you be spending your time working on your swing path and swing plane or should you be working on your balance skills? Could poor balance be causing your swing path, swing plane and clubface issues?

We believe that much of the golf instruction (not all, but much) is seriously flawed and backwards in the way Golfers are taught. Meaning, for example: Many Golfers go to get a golf lesson (or read in a magazine or see on television) and are immediately admonished that their backswing is being taken too much to the outside. And that you need to work on taking it more inside.

Now, I’m not saying that your backswing shouldn’t go outside (and I’m not saying it shouldn’t come inside or straight back), however – maybe that flaw could be caused by something else. Maybe taking the club too far outside could be a compensation for another swing flaw.

For example: could poor balance cause you to take the club too far outside?

Unfortunately, many Golfers and Instructors only look at the effect (taking the club too far outside) and then teach you a compensation (taking the club more inside) to compensate for that first compensation (taking the club too far outside). So basically, you’re working on fixing one compensation with another compensation. And then you wonder why you can’t consistently take the club more to the inside while hitting a golf ball. Well maybe, just maybe – the club is going too far outside for a reason – maybe it’s compensating for poor balance?

To use the “taking the club more to the inside” example as an example – could bad balance cause you to take your club too far outside? Absolutely! If you’re not balanced at set-up – if your weight is too much on your heels – it could cause you to take the club too far outside in that Instructor’s eyes. Now, I’m not saying that taking the club too far outside is a bad thing (I’m not saying it’s a good thing either) – it’s just an example of something a lot of Golfers are corrected on.

The basis here is to talk about how bad balance could be affecting many of your so-called golf swing flaws. And how many Golfers are misdiagnosed - causing them to have to learn even more compensations to cover up other compensations. For example – learning to swing more inside to correct the outside swing path – yet never correcting the cause of the outside swing path (which could be bad balance).

If your balance at set-up is off – meaning too much on your heels – it could cause you to compensate by pushing your hands and arms away from your body because if they did come back more naturally – it might cause you to fall backwards. So to counter balance having too much weight on your heels – you push your arms away from your body on the backswing to maintain balance. So now you’re compensating for bad balance (which you need to do to remain standing), by taking the club outside.

Now, because of your bad balance – you’re told to change your swing path. Yet, the problem isn’t your swing path – your “poor” swing path is just an effect of your poor balance. Now a big problem arises when you start trying to bring the club more inside without correcting the bad balance. This will cause you to struggle on the golf course by hitting shanks and pulls and killer slices as you work on taking it more inside – which will cause you to add even more compensations to your swing to counteract those bad shots.

So now, when you go back for more help on your golf swing – you’re told that you’re now bringing the club in a little better – but to stop the shanks and pulls and killer slices, you need to stop coming over the top. You need to drop the club from the top of your golf swing into the slot so that you can bring the club more from the inside as you approach impact.

Yet, this happens even though you still haven’t perfected the more inside takeaway (which you can’t because your balance still hasn’t improved). And now, even though you don’t have the backswing, you have to learn how to bring the club down more on the inside as opposed to over the top. Yet, how can you bring the club more from the inside when you’re still don’t have good balance. With the weight too far back on your heels – you have a choice – throw the club to the outside on the way down (what you’ve been doing) or starting at the top of your backswing, move your weight to your toes for a counter balance so that you could drop the club down behind you (where your Instructor says it “needs” to be).

Regardless of which you subconsciously choose – you’re just adding another compensation on top of the other compensations that’s going to cause more problems in your golf swing. Without good balance, you’re like the people in a 10 story building with a wobbly foundation – when the building starts to lean to the front, you all run to the back of the building to counter the forward motion. And when the building now moves to the back, you all run to the front. Yet, nothing gets done in the office because everything is being affected by the bad foundation.

To give you a simple picture on how balance can affect your body’s movements – picture this: If you’re standing up straight, then lower your left arm down the side of your body to pick-up a heavy briefcase positioned to the outside of your left foot. How would you pull that bag up? Most likely by lifting it as you lean your upper body to the right – counter balancing the weight on your left. Then, as you walk with the heavy briefcase in your left hand (with your Blackberry held against your ear with your right hand), which way is your body leaning? Obviously to the right to counterbalance yourself.

Well, a similar thing could happen if you don’t have good balance in your golf swing. If your weight is too much in one direction – your body will compensate for it by moving in another direction. Yet, when similar balance issues happen with Golfers, they are often told that the compensations that they have created (because of the poor balance) are the problem with their golf swing. When in fact, that so called problem is just a compensation you created because of a far bigger issue. So now you’re taught another compensation to fix the compensation that was created by the cause. Yet, you never fixed the cause. And if you never fix the cause – you’re just going to start creating more and more compensations – so that your golf swing just becomes one big compensation.

And remember that - ‘Compensations equal Inconsistency’.

I can’t tell you how many thousands of Golfers unfortunately have to go through this every year – never getting to the cause of the problem, only being told how to fix the effect. Which is backwards because you should be working to fix the cause – yet most Golfers are only taught how to fix the effect by being given compensation after compensation. And that’s a big reason why so many Golfers never get better and swear never to take another golf lesson again because they only get worse afterwards.

Thank goodness for GMS!

How can you work on your balance? It’s easy. Get set-up like you’re ready to hit a golf shot, then pick-up your left foot so that you’re balanced on your right foot. Now to do this – you’re going to have to move your center of gravity over your right leg. See how long you can stay balanced on your right foot (while in set-up). And as you’re doing this – try to move your weight around your foot to feel where you’re the most balanced. After you can hold your balance for 30 seconds without having to put your left foot down or grab onto something – try it with your left foot.

Please remember, this isn’t as easy as it may sound – so don’t try this next to a glass table or at the top of a staircase – make sure you’re in a safe place. If you can only stay balanced for a few seconds on your first attempts – what is that telling you? It could be telling you that you don’t have great balance and that bad balance could be causing compensations in your golf swing that are causing you to create even more compensations and making you even more inconsistent.

The Monkey will continue to work on the effect by practicing taking the golf club to the inside without fixing the cause

The Player is always interested in fixing the cause because they know that if they fix the cause, they also fix the effect

Go ahead, Be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

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Are You As Consistent As A PGA Tour Player?

At the PGA Tour event in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago, an interesting thing happened. In round 2, one Tour Pro beat another Tour Pro by 18 strokes in that one round. For the mathematically challenged – that’s 1 stroke per hole. Now, that’s about the equivalent and what you might expect to see when a 2 handicap plays with a 20 handicap. Not when 2 PGA Tour Players are playing.

In the second round, JP Hayes scored an impressive 62; while Trevor Dodds endured through an 80. Nonetheless – that’s a 1 stroke per hole difference in score – not something you’d expect to see on that high a level of golf. I guess it just goes to show how consistency is tough for the best Players in the world to grasp day after day and week after week.

What also illustrates this point is that Dodds isn’t a hack. In the first round he shot a very nice 70 – which was one shot better than Hayes’ 71. Which highlights even more inconsistency: Dodds played 10 shots worse on Friday than he did on Thursday. And Hayes played 9 shots worse on Thursday than he did on Friday.

So if the best Players in the world have scores that have 9 or 10 shots swings from Thursday to Friday – I guess for a regular Golfer, it shouldn’t be a big deal if you shot 92 on Saturday and 102 on Sunday! Because these guys have much more consistent golf swings than rest of us – and their scores vary 10 shots from round to round – how can you expect yours to have less of a variance?

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GMS Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

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"My Drives Are Longer And Where I Want Them!"

GMS,

I had my most consistent game ever two weeks ago and had an 87 to top it off (that's good for me).

My time in St. Augustine was well worth the money, plus I had a great time. My drives are longer and most important; they are where I want them to be. I am using my game plan, and it is helping. My short game is vastly improved, and I am having fun.

GMS has made a difference to my golf game and to my outlook on golf.

Thanks,

Warren V - Huntsville, Alabama – Sent May 16th, 2009

Attended St. Augustine location in February 23rd to 25th, 2009

"I Kept Thinking About My PLAN And Stuck To It!"

Marc,

It's been 10 weeks since my foot fracture and played my first round last Sunday. The wind was blowing a steady 30 MPH so I had no expectations.

I kept thinking of my plan (the one I mapped out while I was recuperating) and stuck to it. Several bogeys, a couple of double bogeys, several pars and one birdie. When I added it all up, I had carded a 90. Which I thought was pretty good considering the conditions, and not being able to swing a club (because of a foot fracture) for almost 10 weeks.

I asked the pro what he thought the equivalent to par was considering today's conditions – he said he thought par was about equal to a 78. So my 90 began looking even better. I’m very happy with my 90 considering the conditions!

I had only 1 three-putt and 6 one-putts. I'm looking forward to playing again on a regular basis and sticking to the plan. I'm sure I'll be emailing or calling with some questions down the road. I'm actually looking forward to hitting the range and getting back to practicing my drills.

Regards,

Ben P – Brooklyn, New York – Sent May 13th, 2009

Attended Phoenix location on February 20th to 22nd, 2009

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Share Your Golf Made Simple Testimonials | Click Here

"Are Double Bogeys In Your PLAN?"

Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 241 from May 28th, 2008

"It's so easy to lose your focus and PLAN after making a Double or Triple Bogey on the golf course. For most Golfers, a Double or Triple is often followed on the next hole with another Double or Triple. And that's precisely why you constantly hear Golfers saying things like - 'Ohh, I could've broken 90, but I had a 3 hole stretch where I went Double, Triple, Double. If I could've just limited those to Bogeys, I'd have scored in the 80's!'

"Yet, with the Player - when they experience a Double or Triple - they often follow it up with a Birdie, Par or at worst a Bogey. Why is this?

Well, I believe it's easier ....."

Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here

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Almost Halfway Through 2009?

Is it almost June already? There’s no way! Wasn’t it just March … like just 2 weeks ago? I don’t know about you – but it’s been so busy around here. Time is just moving too fast.

And when I say busy, I mean busy. It’s been borderline crazy with all the inquires and sign-ups we have for our new Virginia location just outside Washington DC at Lansdowne Resort. Wow, we knew this was going to be a popular location. How could it not be with over 25 million people living within a 4 hour drive or 45 minute flight away.

And with 45 holes of phenomenal golf in the Virginia countryside – right on the Potomac River and just about smack in the middle of Virginia wine country – and the accommodations right on property at Lansdowne Resort – how could it not be successful? As I say this – June dates are just about sold-out. We have two spots available on June 16th to 18th; only two spots for the 19th to 21st – yet besides that, there’s not much more available for June. If you’re thinking about July – start thinking hard – because it’s right around the corner.

Regards,

Alex - Director

Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635<

International - 001.904.460.8355

Email: IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com

Email Us Your Questions, Comments & Suggestions about

Golf Improvement Weekly | Click Here

"Maybe Tiger Should Try The Tilt And Stack?"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Regardless of whether you’re thinking about your golf game or Tiger Woods’ golf game – it’s all about realistic expectations. So since Tiger is a hot topic right now – let’s talk some Tiger.

There’s so much babble out there about “What’s wrong with Tiger? Why didn’t he win at the Masters or the Players Championship? What’s wrong with his golf swing? Why isn’t he making any putts?”

I gather that all this gibberish is being tossed at you because he’s "only" won one paltry tournament this year. Yet, let’s put things in perspective - there’s not a Player in the world that wouldn’t take his golf game or golf swing or putting stroke right this second. Right now he’s the most consistent Golfer in the world – his results this year prove it: Tiger has played in 5 PGA stroke play tournaments in 2009 – placing in the Top 10 each event. His worst finish was his first stroke play tournament back after surgery on his left leg, where he came in 9th place. And on top of that - he’s a collective 38 under par for those 5 tournaments – which I believe means he’s averaging better than 7 under par for each tournament.

Have I mentioned he's averaging 69.7 shots per round playing some tough golf courses?

I feel obligated as a Golf Instructor to show how unrealistic (and some might say uninformed or even Monkey) many (certainly not all) in the Golf Media are as it pertains to the sport they’re reporting on. So let’s take a look at Tiger's results compared to the other top Players on the PGA Tour.

Results from 5 excellent Golfers and 1 incredible Golfer in 2009:

Phil Mickelson – 9 tournaments: 4 times in the top 10; failed to make the cut in 2 tournaments, tied for 55th place in 2 tournaments – meaning he finished worse than 50th place, 44% of the time

Anthony Kim – 8 tournaments: 1 time in the top 10; failed to make the cut in two tournaments, actually in the Top 25 only once in 2009.

Sean O’Hair – 10 tournaments: 6 times in the top 10; failed to make the cut in 2 tournaments

Kenny Perry – 11 tournaments: 6 times in the top 10 – 54% of the time; tied for 59th in 2 tournaments

Padraig Harrington – 9 Tournaments: 0 times in the top 10; in top 20 “only” 2 times, failed to make cut 3 times in 9 tournaments

Tiger Woods – 5 tournaments: 5 times in the top 10 – 100% of the time; worst finish was 9th

Hmmmm, kind of puts Tiger’s “troubles” in perspective doesn’t it? Let’s see – the 2nd best Golfer in the world (Mickelson) has less top 10’s in almost twice as many tournaments as Tiger, has been cut twice before the weekend, in addition to coming in 55th place two times – yet Tiger isn’t playing well? Well, if Tiger isn’t playing like the #1 Player in the World – who is? Maybe the expectations we place on Tiger are out-of-whack?

Or how about the 3rd ranked Player in the world – Sergio Garcia? 6 tournaments and his best finish is 13th. Or the 4th ranked Golfer, Geoff Ogilvy? 9 tournaments with “only" two top 10 finishes. Wow, Number One, Two, Three and Four really stink! These guys are terrible! Or maybe it just shows how good Tiger is. Maybe it shows that what’s truly brilliant about Tiger is not the number of times he wins – but his consistency throughout his game. So that every week, even when he’s not playing his absolute best – he’s as good or almost as good as others when they’re at their ... absolute best.

Again – this isn’t to point out the inconsistency of these other Golfers, they’re phenomenal Golfers – this is to show that there isn’t anything wrong with Tiger. It’s just to show how awesome a Golfer he is. We’re talking about the best Golfers in the world besides Tiger – yet look at how far ahead he is compared to them – even coming off a major surgery. This isn’t a put down to Mickelson or Garcia – these guys are phenomenal Golfers – it’s to point out the 'ridiculousness' of many individuals (certainly not all) in the Golf Media.

Or to put even more perspective towards how many get it so wrong: besides 2008 and 2009, Tiger has never finished in the Top 10 of each of his first 5 tournaments in any year! And that includes the year 2000 when he won 9 PGA tournaments and came in the Top 3 in 14 of his 20 tournaments!

Do you realize that Tiger’s 8th place finish this year was his best finish at TPC at Sawgrass since way back in 2001 when he was the winner? Yet, he’s not playing well according to the experts. Who hired these people?

Let’s get more in depth when talking about Tiger's “woes”. Because as every “expert” knows – Tiger’s troubles are starting on the tee with his Driver. However, Mr. and Mrs. Monkey - in 2008 (just an incredible golf year for Tiger before his leg incident) – Tiger hit 57% of his fairways – in 2009 he has hit 56% of his fairways.

So that 1% difference is what’s starting all the talk from the “experts” about what Tiger is doing wrong in his golf swing? Yet, when he was 1% better – they were showing you all the great things he was doing in his golf swing. Is there that much of a difference in that 1% from when he went from the best golf swing in the world to having so many troubles with his swing?

Well ….. considering that Tiger had 280 possible fairways he could hit in 2008 and that he’s had the same amount this year – it’s a good place to start to show you how Monkey many (certainly not all) in the Golf Media are when talking about what's wrong with Tiger’s swing. Why do I say this? Because in 2008 Tiger hit 162 out of 280 fairways. This year Tiger has hit “only” 159 out of 280.

So all these supposed “gurus” that are talking about what Tiger needs to fix in his Driver are talking about this because Tiger has hit 3 less fairways out of 280 attempts than he did in 2008 when he was undisputedly - The Man.

Who are these “experts” and how did they get appointed “experts”?

I need to get out of the golf business – it’s getting too frustrating having these “experts” tell the golf world what’s wrong and having everyone believe them just because they’re on television! Does anyone want to buy a golf company that had record revenue in 2008 and record profit so far in 2009? I need to get as far away from this lunacy of making people golf experts for no reason at all except that they can talk a lot. Maybe I could get into another industry that has fewer “experts”than golf has – something like politics or the stock market.

How about Tiger’s Driving Distance? I mean because the “experts” say he’s not driving the golf ball that great – I guess we should talk about Driving Distance – shouldn’t we? In 2008 he averaged 294 yards a drive. This year he’s “much” shorter at “only” 292 yards.

“In my opinion, it has to be his putting that’s killing him. Tiger is just not making the crucial putts. Where last year he made everything – this year he’s not really making that many putts. Hey, who took my banana?”

In 2008, Tiger averaged 1.7 putts per Green in Regulation. In 2009, Tiger is averaging an “atrocious” 1.7 putts per Green in Regulation.

In 2008, Tiger made a birdie or eagle an incredible 88 times in 360 holes (24% of the time). In 2009, he’s made a birdie or eagle 84 times in 360 holes (a pathetic 23% of the time).

In 2008, Tiger averaged getting up’n’down from the sand for par 48% of the time. In 2009, he’s averaged 54%.

So is Tiger’s game really that terrible? Or have the Monkeys set unrealistic expectations on Tigers game – just like they may have done to their own games?

Yet, if someone is telling you all the things Tiger is doing wrong in his golf swing when compared to the level he played in 2008 – a level that may never have been matched by any Golfer that ever lived – the person isn’t just a Monkey, that person is a(n) …… well, I’m not even going to say it.

Why was this Golf Improvement Weekly written? Does Tiger need me to 'watch his back'? Or course not. Am I such a rabid Tiger fan that’s bordering on stalker that I feel a need to defend my hero? “Mr. Tiger, ahhhh, yeah, um – you know I’m your biggest fan. I have posters of you all around my house. I named my cat after you – Little Tiger”

This Golf Improvement Weekly was written for one reason - to let you know that the Monkeys are everywhere. This doesn’t just apply to speaking about the PGA Tour or LPGA Tour – the same can be said about the so called “gurus” you see on TV speaking about the golf swing. They can be just as far off with the Theories and Assumptions they’re giving you about the golf swing – as they are with the “What’s Wrong With Tiger” schtick they’re throwing at you this week. And will continue to throw at you until he wins again – when they’ll tell you all the improvements he made in his golf swing and putting stroke.

The Monkey watches a show devoted to asking what’s wrong with Tiger as the “experts” breakdown his golf swing and show you what he’s doing wrong. Then after you finish your bowl of ice cream – you stand-up to try to implement the same changes into your golf swing

The Player ignores many (certainly not all) in the media and just plays golf

Go ahead, Be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

Golf Made Simple, Inc.

3 Day Golf Improvement Programs With Locations in:

Florida - California - Arizona - Colorado - Washington DC

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

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Bonus Material

For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.

Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.

Indoor Putting Drill - If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put 'Facebook' in the subject line.

Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: 'Facebook' and we'll email you how to use this game changing drill.

Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words 'Facebook' in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'

"The Best Golf Swing Ever Is Officially Dead!"

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Golfers will go to great lengths to hit the golf ball better. Many Golfers have a tendency to believe just about anybody and everybody that promises to have a Theory on a better golf swing. And although in the back of your mind – you know that much of this stuff is too good to be true – your passion for golf overwhelms all sense of better judgment.

The question is why would a person start trying to use a golf swing such as something called a Stack and Tilt? Which, if you haven’t already heard – is just another invented golf swing that was dreamed up by a couple of snake oil salesman preying on desperate Golfers – that somehow became the latest “hot” thing to do for all of about 5 minutes.

However, thankfully it has now been officially thrown in the overflowing dumpster with all the other golf fads that have passed. This new swing sensation was supposedly being used by a bunch of PGA Tour Players – when in fact, how many of these Tour Players are using this concept today? Probably the same amount that are using another once hot fad that’s in the overflowing dumpster of new golf swings - something called Natural Golf.

Thankfully as we scan the golf internet chat rooms – there is little talk of this Stack and Tilt thing – unlike 5 months ago when it was the latest and greatest. And just like much of America was in a real estate frenzy just a couple of years ago where you had to be in real estate or you were missing something big – the gurus of the golf internet chat rooms had desperate Golfers worked up into a similar sort of maniacal frenzy about having to try this new golf swing.

“I heard that Tiger is going to start using the Stack and Tilt!” ‘My cousin has a friend that knows a guy whose wife is friends with someone that lives next to Mickelson’s accountant and she says that Mickelson is also trying it!’ “I usually score around 95 and I shot a 62 my very first round using it!”

And blessedly, as GMS announced many months ago (in the December 12th, 2007 issue of Golf Improvement Weekly) that this new swing should be labeled as the Stack and Shank – it is now (18 months later) being referred to by that moniker by the same gurus who were proclaiming it as the greatest thing since interchangeable shafts for your Driver. All those poor Golfers that got caught up with another golf swing fad - that wasted the last 18 months not improving, but most likely learning to shank the golf ball and lose distance on their tee shots.

Yet, just like all other fads - it seems that there still might be some Golfers that are now just starting to try out the Stack and Shank – kind of like the little kid that arrived at his friends birthday party at 4:00 pm when it really started at 1:00 pm – saying: “Hey guys, where are you going? Why are you leaving the party already?” ‘Jimmy, we ate the cake and opened the presents - the party is over. There is some leftover birthday cake on the table, but it wasn’t very good – too much frosting and sprinkles - not enough cake.’ “Oh, I’m hungry – I’ll eat anything!”

How is it that people that are so smart that they could build businesses or be key personal in a business - people that have to deal with snake oil salesman everyday as part of their career – get hornsnaggled by a couple of golf pro’s touting their revolutionary golf swing?

I was very lucky at the start of my life in golf – as I was able to train under a very smart Golf Professional that said to me: “Marky, the golf swing is like a box of Kellogg Corn Flakes.” To which I answered probably like you are right now – ‘huh?’

He continued – “The golf swing is like a box of Kellogg Corn Flakes. What’s inside the box never changes – the only thing that changes is the packaging.”

And what he meant was: the golf swing is the golf swing like corn flakes are corn flakes – the ingredients of a good golf swing don’t change, just like the ingredients of corn flakes do not change. There are no new golf swings that will make you better. However, the packaging or in golf terms, the way of explaining the golf swing so that a Golfer can improve – can always improve.

The packaging equates (but isn’t limited) to: being able to continually help Golfers using improved concepts such as better, more effective drills that will help you to feel your golf swing. Developing training methods so that Golfers can better understand their golf swing, without having to think about too many things on every swing, along with understanding how to fix it quickly after a bad shot. And then training Golfers to practice their golf swing more efficiently using a PLAN based on their Strengths and Weaknesses as opposed to just beating golf balls like the Monkeys on the range.

There will never be a new golf swing that will be invented that will help Golfers to improve their ball striking (the actual corn flake doesn’t change). However, Golf Instructors can improve their communication skills and knowledge of the golf swing so that we can teach the golf swing in a simpler manner. Yes, there are varying degrees of talent amongst Instructors – yet, there are no new golf swings.

Yes, there are many movements in the golf swing using all the different parts of your body. Most Golf Instructors will teach you all those movements. And unfortunately many Golfers think that just because an Instructor talks about all those movements – that must mean this Instructor is a good Instructor. On the contrary – an Instructor that needs to talk about all those movements is a weak and ineffective Instructor who probably doesn’t have many Golfers that improve. Yet, they maybe held in high esteem just because they talk like they know what they’re doing.

For years (and still today), many less informed Golf Instructors will teach a Golfer to turn their shoulders and turn your hips and to shift your weight. Three things that most Golfers have been taught and try to do on every golf swing – yet, more times than not; fail to accomplish doing it effectively - thus resulting in an errant golf shot.

On the other hand, a talented Golf Instructor can have you doing all three things without you having to think about doing all three things every golf swing. We help you to do all of the above without thinking about it. Talented Golf Instructors help you by formulating drills that will have you doing all those things naturally – meaning without consciously thinking about it.

Creating good habits in your golf swing without you having to think about it is the first step to a consistent golf swing. And when you can do that – you’ll swing smoother and you’ll hit the golf ball better and more consistent.

The Golf Instructor that feels the need to teach you everything about the golf swing is like the sports hero being interviewed on TV that uses big, fancy words to hide the fact that he graduated high school only because he was a star athlete. So he’ll use fancy words to make him appear smarter and/or more talented – although many times he won’t even use these words correctly.

“You have to make sure that you use a one piece takeaway so that your swing path starts slightly to the inside while making sure you maintain the proper posture. As you’re doing this, your club will be starting on plane as your shoulders turn 90 degrees to the target, hips 45 degrees and that you have 55% of your weight on your right foot and 45% of your weight on your left foot. Then you must ….”

‘Oh, that guy sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. I need to listen to what he’s teaching!”

The skill of a fabulous Instructor is to take all those movements and find a way to wrap them up for the Golfer into one movement. For example: If you ever see a Golfer that’s struggling with their game – do they have more or less swing thoughts than someone that’s playing well? Of course – they have way too many swing thoughts. “Oh, this is terrible - I have so much I’m thinking about on every swing.”

And then this Golfer will go take a golf lesson to improve their golf swing and lo and behold, what might that Golf Instructor do? If it’s like most golf lessons – the Golf Instructor gives this already confused Golfer even more to think about. Why? Because many Instructors want to prove to you how much they know about the golf swing. And they’re going to prove it to you that they know a lot – if you like it or not.

And more times than not - that Golfer walks away more confused, playing worse and swearing to never take another golf lesson again. Which is unfortunate because there are some really excellent Golf Instructors available.

On the other hand – when you speak to a Golfer that’s hitting the golf ball great and ask them what they were thinking about on that last shot, it often is: “I don’t know, I was just trying to make a smooth golf swing.”

So if that’s the case – it’s no wonder why most people get worse after the typical golf lesson. Because the typical Golf Instructor talks about all these little movements and you try to do as your Instructor says and then you struggle on the golf course. Yet, the talented Instructor knows how to take all those movements and have you make all those movements without you having to think about it.

A truly great and talented Golf Instructor doesn’t care about being perceived as intelligent – all we care about is that our Golfers are improving.

The Monkey grabs the new, latest and greatest vine that all the other Monkeys are grabbing just because the other Monkeys are grabbing it

The Player understands the golf swing is like Corn Flakes and finds the Instructor that knows how to package specifically for their golf game

Go ahead, Be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com

Missed Greens In Regulation On Golf Course

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:18:00 +0000

With the completion of the Masters – Golf is now officially “In-season”. And it may just be my imagination, but it always seems that Golfers gain motivation to playing better golf after watching the Masters of the Golf Universe playing the best golf imaginable. Now your goal should be to let your enthusiasm motivate you to work hard using your practice schedule.

You do have a practice schedule – don’t you?

You know, a couple of weeks ago, our Stat of the Week in Golf Improvement Weekly was entitled – “If He Putts Well – He Might Win The Masters.” It was about Vijay Singh and how well he has been hitting the golf ball, yet how “poorly” compared to the other top PGA Tour Players he has been putting. If you missed that Stat – we reused it as the The Stat of the Week in this issue of GIW for you to read it.

The point of the Stat was to show that regardless of how good your golf swing is and how well you strike the golf ball – 35 to 40% of those total strokes can be attributed to your putting. And then if you’d like to get deeper into it (and you should get deeper into it if you want to improve your score), at least another 10 to 20% of your strokes are with clubs you use from 1 yard to 35 yards off the green.

So why do I bring this up? I’m not going to try to bore you with another “Short Game, Short Game, Short Game” rant. I mean what’s the point - from what I’ve seen – that advice just falls onto deaf ears.

However, being a stubborn Golf Pro that is attracted to controversy and debate – along with always wanting to be correct about my predictions – I must say – Vijay Singh hit the golf ball just as well as anyone in the Masters. And actually hit the golf ball better than the Champion – Angel Cabrera. And if Vijay did putt as well as the average Player in the Tournament – he probably would’ve won.

Is this the start of the Vijay Fan Club?

No, don’t take what I’m writing as the official fan site for Vijay Singh – it’s not. However, Vijay could be the official poster child for an organization entitled “If I Could Putt As Well As I Can Hit A Golf Ball – I Would Be One Of The Best Who Ever Played”.

And this isn’t a rant on Vijay or Professional Golf. This is a rant about your golf game. Please continue reading to see how this ties into your golf and improvement.

Vijay hit 52 out of 72 Greens in Regulation – Cabrera hit 50 out of 72. Now as far as ball striking statistics – Greens in Regulation is King. There’s not another stat (that I know of) that tells you how well you’re hitting the golf ball. Meaning, if you’re hitting your tee shots into the trees – you’re not hitting Greens on your second shot on Par 4’s. If you’re not swinging your irons well – you’re not hitting Greens from anywhere on the golf course. If you don’t hit your Driver far enough – well … nobody hits many Greens when they’re always hitting hybrids and fairway woods to the green.

So the number of Greens in Regulation you hit basically tells you where you stand as far as your ball striking skills. Or another way of saying it - it tells you how good (or not good) your golf swing is.

And tournament after tournament – Vijay is near the top, along with Tiger as far as Greens in Regulation.

However, Vijay had 122 putts for the four rounds at Augusta National. While Cabrera only had 112. Which, almost coincidentally aligns with the fact that Vijay ended up 11 strokes behind Cabrera. And although this doesn’t perfectly align with the margin of victory by Cabrera over Vijay – it’s pretty darn close and it does show that even though you might have one of the best golf swings in the world – the best golf swing doesn’t guarantee the best score.

As a side note – Tiger also hit 2 more Greens than Cabrera, but he also had 122 putts – the same as Vijay.

Now this isn’t to say that putting is more important than ball striking. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. It all depends on what your Strengths and Weaknesses are. If you have a very good golf swing like Vijay – putting is more important at this point. If you had only 109 putts like Sandy Lyle (2 under par for the tournament and 1 stroke ahead of Vijay) – your golf swing is more important at this point.

The funny thing is that if Vijay and Sandy Lyle had a child – that kid would be sporting a Green Jacket.

So how do you know which is your Strength and which is your Weakness? I ask this even though I know that 7 out of every 8 Golfers believe that their wedges and putting is their Strength. And with me going back to the statement that I don’t mind debate and controversy – Trust me – for most of you – your wedges and putting aren’t even close to being a Strength of your golf game.

And as I know – most of you are probably saying something like – “That Solomon, he’s an idiot – he has no idea how good a putter I am. And how bad my Driver is.” I say to these Golfers – then prove it by doing the test below.

Prove it by finding your ‘Putts Per Missed Green In Regulation Stat’. Meaning most Golfers hit between 0 and 6 Greens in Regulation per 18 holes. So even though it would be great to see you raise your Greens in Regulation to 10 or 12 – which is comparable to a PGA Tour Player – you’re not a PGA Tour Player and you don’t have their skills. So it would be more beneficial for you to focus on Reality.

Reality says that you’re going to miss more Greens than you’re going to hit – so don’t fight Reality. Turn Reality into a Strength. Here’s how:

For every Green you miss – keep count of how many putts it takes you to get the ball into the hole. For example: You’re on a Par 4. Your second or third shot stops 15 yards from the green. You hit your next shot onto the green and 2 putt. That would mean that your ‘Putts Per Missed Green’ (PPMG) stat is 2. If on the next hole, a Par 3, your tee shot lands 5 yards from the green. Then you hit your next shot on the green and 3 putt – your ‘PPMG’ is now 5 (for the 2 holes) or 2.5 per hole. Which isn’t very good.

How should you follow this stat? Every time you play. How do you know if you’re doing well? Let me put it this way – averaging 2 PPMG is not good. If you want to score better – you need to be below 2 PPMG. If you’re above 2 PPMG – you need to spend more time on your wedges and putting. Because as much as you work on your Driver and your irons – 7 out of 8 Golfer won’t hit more than 6 Greens in Regulation. And even if you hit 6 Greens – you still have missed 12 Greens.

And I’ll tell you something else that you might not have ever thought of – The Golfer that hits 0 Greens in a round of 18 holes, yet averages 1.5 PPMG will have a lower score than a Golfer that hits 6 Greens in Regulation, yet has an average of 2.5 PPMG. And that includes if you1 putted each Green you hit and had 6 Birdies!

Here’s an example of the above scenario for the mathematically challenged –

1.5 PPMG: 1 wedge shot per hole + 1.5 Putts per hole multiplied by 18 holes = 45 strokes.

2.5 PPMG: 1 wedge shot per hole + 2.5 Putts per hole multiplied by 12 holes = 42 strokes + 6 putts (the 6 Birdie putts) = 48 strokes.

The 1.5 PPMG Golfer would still beat you by 3 strokes. And that’s if you 1 putted each Green in Regulation (no 2 putts or 3 putts on the greens you hit). And to further show how powerful this statement is - when’s the last time you had 6 Greens in Regulation and one putted each one for 6 Birdies?

Now – don’t take your PPMG lightly. And don’t think of it as being a 100% putting stat. Because a big percentage of your PPMG is based on how skilled you are with your wedges around the green. Obviously – the more skilled you are with your wedges – the closer your first putting attempt will be from the hole.

Also – don’t start to think that your PPMG is 100% based on your putting and wedges. A lot of this stat has to do with your PLAN. Meaning – when you were hitting your approach shot to the green – were you cognizant on where you shouldn’t miss the green. Did you fail to PLAN a ‘what if’ – meaning what if you did mis-hit the golf ball – would it leave you with a tough wedge shot that would be difficult to get close to the hole?

Track your PPMG and see if your average is 2 putts or above. Then if so, figure out why. Was it your putting? Was it your wedges around the green? Was it your PLAN that left you in tough positions around the green? Was it a combination of all three? My prediction is that it's a combination.

Nobody except GMS is talking about how much better Vijay hit the golf ball than Cabrera. Why? Because Cabrera outplayed Vijay. Would you rather be a one dimensional Player like Vijay was in this past Masters or a multi dimensional Player like the 2009 Masters Champ from Argentina?

You want to score better? Find your PPMG. You want to keep scoring how you’ve been scoring? Keep doing what you’ve been doing. It’s your choice.

The Monkey is still spending hours at the driving range fiddling with their golf swing and hitting golf balls even though their PPMG is over 2

The Player is tracking their PPMG, finding why it’s so high and then working to improve it

Go ahead, be a Player!

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com

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Missed Greens In Regulation on Golf Course

noreply@blogger.com (Golf Made Simple - Golf Improvement Program) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Missed Greens In Regulation