JohnHayesGolf.com Newsletter Golf Tip – September 2018
For your golf game: In last month’s golf tip I told you that the golfer cannot just swing the club beautifully from one side to the other producing solidly struck shots that fly well. He or she must also direct the swing toward the target. You must be able to sense this when you are swinging on the golf course but the Tour Pros have found a new way to practice to get the feedback about the direction of the swing. The most popular, and very expensive, machine to do this is called TrackMan. You cannot watch a golf telecast without seeing these TrackMan numbers appearing somewhere.
TrackMan offers more information about a shot than anybody could process and turn into a golf swing but I do like several numbers that it gives. One is CLUB PATH which gives the direction the clubhead is moving at impact relative to the target line. It also gives the FACE ANGLE which gives the angle of the clubface at impact relative to the target line. As you might imagine, the Tour Pros have TrackMan numbers that vary like their fingerprints. Zach Johnson has a 6 iron CLUB PATH that is 6.8 degrees to the right of the target line with a FACE ANGLE that is 3.4 degrees to the right. They say that having a FACE ANGLE that is about 50% less to the right or left of the CLUB PATH direction, but in the same direction relative to the target line, is ideal for producing a very slight draw or fade. Also that the path and face directions are pretty close to the same unless you want to have a glancing blow that produces a great deal of curve.
Dustin Johnson’s driver CLUB PATH is 3.1 degrees to the left with a FACE ANGLE that is 2.7 degrees to the left which produces a soft fade which he prefers. It is important to know that center impact is still critical as a miss on the heel or toe will produce a curving shot due to the gear effect that will overcome the path and face numbers, especially with the driver. I think it is also worth noting that the number of degrees left or right for these elite players is really very small.
The Tour players seem to be getting a benefit from practicing with TrackMan. It does give good feedback on what the golf club is doing and this can motivate the student to keep using the club correctly. I suspect there are still many fine players on the Tours who still use their awareness of the club and the feedback from the ball flight to guide their practice. You will still need to sense when you are swinging the club in the direction of the target when playing because TrackMan will not be there to help you.
Upcoming clinics and events: I will be offering a new lesson opportunity in partnership with Dialed In Golf Solutions. We will have FOUR TRACKMAN SESSIONS FOR FOUR MONTHS! The first two sessions will be half hour lessons with me where we will see your TrackMan numbers and find the technique adjustment that can improve your numbers and, of course, your shots. These will be on Sat., SEPT 15 and Sat., OCT 13. You can pick your half hour slots from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be 2 additional 20-minute sessions on Sat., Nov. 17 and Sat., Dec. 15 where you will practice like the Tour Pros while looking at your TrackMan numbers to see that you are on course.
Total cost for the whole package is $250. Sign up at http://bit.ly/TrackManJohnHayes or go to www.dialedingolfsolutions.com to sign up and reserve your time.
My next specialty clinic will be a SHORT GAME BOOT CAMP for 2 hours held on FRIDAY evening, SEPTEMBER 7th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. I will cover pitching/chipping, bunker play, putting, and fun games to practice effectively! Men or Ladies welcome. This is NOT for new beginners. There is a limit of only 3 students so call or email to sign up. Total cost is only $55.
My next LADIES-ONLY GOLF CLINIC will be held on 3 consecutive Friday evenings – SEPTEMBER 14, 21, 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Cost is only $50 total for 4 and a half hours of instruction! It is good for beginners or newly dedicated golfers. Limit of 7 golfers!
I will conduct a FOUR WEEK GOLF CLINIC on four consecutive Tuesday evenings – OCTOBER 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Week 1: Set PRIORITY after skill and swing assessment, Week 2: Set PRACTICE ROUTINE, Week 3: Set ON-COURSE ROUTINE and Week 4: PRACTICE and final skill assessment. For Men & Women all levels, 16 or older recommended. Total cost is only $80 and includes everything! Limit of 6 golfers, call/text or email.Please call/text (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.
** I will be conducting the Adult Golf Clinics every week on Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and on Saturday afternoons at 12:30 p.m. There is no sign up, just show up and cost is only $20 which includes a large bucket of range balls.
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 & Sports Complex in beautiful Clearwater in the Tampa, FL area.