vol. 9, number 8                                

 
In This Issue
The Slice Killer!
Your Line - What Line??
New Web Site Coming SOON!





Game Improvement Golf Newsletter

Info. To Improve YOUR Golf Game (SEPTEMBER 2019)


Be Careful With Those Bugs!   
   
Today we start out with "is this really true?"  In the short video in this link, a Rule of Golf is discussed that you may not be aware of.  You have go to watch this one - Protect Those Bugs And Beatles!!


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I did not know that Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer.  I found this article a few days ago, and I think it is one that all golfers should read and understand...
 
 
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One of my club fitting mentors, Dana Upshaw, has often said Lead Tape Is Your Friend.  Here is a fascinating little article about what lead tape on your golf club cannot do and can do...
 
 

The Slice Killer!

Do you slice the ball, and want more distance and to hit more fairways?  Well - there are many golfers who have this issue and want help.  In the past few weeks, I listened more closely to some of my smartest custom fitting friends - in particular Keith Chatham, Roy Nix, and Bert Reich - all from the AGCP - about how to solve this driving demon!
 
Let's keep it simple.  
 
THE DEMON - Drivers That Are Too Long and Too Light
 
THE SOLUTION - Shorter and Heavier Drivers!
(Well REALLY - Drivers Custom Fit For You) 
 
The standard 46 long drivers you can buy in many golf stores for many golfers will promote an outside to inside swing path and a slice!  46 inch drivers are about hitting a few shots from time to time longer.  They are not about putting golfers into an athletic setup position to swing the golf club, and about helping them to create a closer to inside-to-outside swing path.
 
Tom Wishon created a simple chart that shows the type of club lengths that will be good for golfers - based on measuring their Wrist To Floor Length - here is that chart....
 
   
I recently did a starting Flightscope fitting session with a golfer who sliced the ball, and who wanted more distance.  His Wrist To Floor measurement was 33-1/2 inches - meaning a good starting test length for him would be about 43-1/2 inches.  Keith Chatham shared a recent fitting success he had, and suggested I rebuild his driver to make it 44 inches long, with a shaft about 10 grams heavier than he was playing with.  This I did - and check out this happy face from the outdoor testing we did!!
 
  
In summary - about 20 yards more distance - more center face contact - and his misses are better than they were in the past.  LET THAT SINK IN - 2 INCHES SHORTER THAN HIS "OFF THE RACK" DRIVER!
 
There is one other kind of hidden benefit of fitting a golfer with the correct length driver.  Once you do that - if you get good instruction - wow, you have the chance to totally optimize your driving performance!
 
You can tell I am pretty excited about this, and really appreciate the help I got from Keith, Roy, and Bert.  And you slicers out there who read this - you are going to be happier too!  
 

  Your Line - What Line??       
           
I have to opportunity to help some talented golfers who want to improve their putting.  When I test a golfer's putter aim, I always ask if they use a line on the ball to set the line for their putts.  In some recent tests for golfers who use a line on the ball, I measured where the line was actually pointing.  And for many golfers there were surprises - the line on the ball pointed as much as 2 to 3 degrees off of the hoped for target line.
 
Does this matter - well of course it does!  If the ball line is not correctly aimed, it creates uncertainties within a golfer about what the real aim line is.  Our subconscious is pretty smart - and wants to attempt to correct for errors and uncertainties.
 
Personally, I am not a fan of using a line on the ball for aim - and have never done so.  But this is not to say it cannot be good for others golfers - if used correctly.  I know some golfers who do not use a line for long putts, but it provides them some added confidence for short putts.
 
My guidance on using a ball line for aim - Make Sure It Works!!  Rather than assuming that you point the line correctly, find some way to Calibrate what you do.  Maybe for example use an alignment stick to check where the line is pointing,  Another option would be to use something like the Glen Coombe Putting Doctor mirror that I use with golfers, here is a picture...
 
 
No matter what you do - find some way to be SURE that using a line on the ball is actually doing for you what you think it is - No Assumptions!! 
 
   
New Web Site Coming SOON!       

It has been more than 5 years since I did an update to my web site.  I hope you will all enjoy the new site when it is active.  It will have a more modern web site look - and still contain all of the content I have been creating for the last 11 years - yes, it has been about 11 years since I published my first blog post!

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Many of you probably guessed - "241" is about my efforts to improve my fitness and lose weight - and probably play a bit of better golf too.  I had a major wake-up call about a month ago about my overall fitness.  So far - I am walking at least 5 days a week, eating better - and have lost about 6 pounds.  If I keep doing the right things, the weight loss will just be a by product!!

Tony Wright 
GAME IMPROVEMENT GOLF
Oak Ridge, TN
I CREATE EXCEPTIONAL GOLF CLUBS  
YOU SHOOT LOWER SCORES!