JohnHayesGolf Newsletter Golf Tip – October 2014
For your golf game: I want you to KEEP THE GRIP PRESSURE CONSTANT IN THE FINGERS OF THE RIGHT HAND from the end of the backswing to the finish (for a right-handed golfer). This is one of Manuel de la Torre’s corrective procedures for golfers who are using the hands to cast the clubhead and trying to hit at the ball on the forward swing. A golfer may do this to try to hit the ball farther or to try to get the ball up into the air. In any case, Manuel once called this problem the most common one that he sees in his students. When you use the right hand to add a burst of speed you no longer have a swinging motion, you have leverage. In leverage you have forces working in opposite directions – the hands throw the clubhead end of the club forward/downward but the grip end of the club slows down or goes backward. The left wrist becomes the fulcrum in this leverage action. In a swinging motion you have everything moving in the same direction at the same time and with the same rate of acceleration. Swinging is the most efficient way to produce the speed needed for golf.
When you suddenly cast the clubhead using the hands this requires an increase in the pressure of the fingers of the right hand. You can help solve this problem by purposefully keeping the grip pressure CONSTANT during the entire forward swing. Greg Norman mentioned that the best golf tip that he ever received was from Jack Nicklaus on the eve of one of Greg’s major victories. Jack told him to keep his grip pressure constant with no tight increases in pressure during his swings the next day. Needless to say, Greg Norman swung the club well enough to win the next day.
Upcoming clinics and events: I will conduct my next GET GOLF READY LADIES BOOT CAMP on Thur., October 16 through Sun., October 19. There will be 4 hours of golf clinics (Thur. & Fri. from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Sat. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and then we will finish on the golf course on Sun. from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is perfect for beginners who want to feel comfortable on the golf course in a short time. Total cost is only $99 and includes everything! My next LADIES-ONLY GOLF CLINIC will be held on 4 consecutive Sunday afternoons – October 5, 12, 19 and 26 from NOON to 1:00 p.m. Cost is only $40 total for all 4 sessions! It is good for beginners or newly dedicated golfers. I will have my TWO-DAY GOLF SCHOOL for experienced golfers on Sat., November 8 (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and Sun., November 9 (8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) Limit of only 3 golfers and total cost of $99.
We will be having a new ADULT GOLF SCHOOL on a Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (October 7th) where a limited number of golfers will go through a full swing station, a short game station and an on-course station with me, Dave Pedersen – PGA, and Dustin Snay – PGA Apprentice, at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club. This intense one-day school will leave you with some good plans for improving plus a lot of giveaways and a coupon for golf, all for only $59.99!
Please call (727) 692-4679 or email, jh@johnhayesgolf.com, to sign up as space is limited for all clinics. Go to www.johnhayesgolf.com for more details.
As always, please contact me with any questions or comments and I hope to see you soon on the lesson tee at the Chi Chi Golf Range & Family Sports Complex in beautiful Clearwater, FL.