Brian Soczka Golf

Golf Instruction: Ben Hogan's Timeless Tips Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

2012-03-29T22:42:00.000-05:00

Golf Instruction: Ben Hogan's Timeless Tips Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

Make a proper weight shift for crisper contact (May, 1952)

Hogan thought one of the amateur golfer's most-common flaws is that they hit the ground before hitting the ball when using their irons. To hit down on the ball properly, he suggested golfers focus on shifting their weight to their front side on the downswing. That move will keep a person from feeling like they are falling back at impact, and it help ensures a golfer will "take turf" after making contact with the ball.

Dallas Jones Studio, Chicago

Golf Instruction: Ben Hogan's Timeless Tips Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

2012-03-29T22:36:00.000-05:00

Golf Instruction: Ben Hogan's Timeless Tips Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

Brian Soczka, March 2010

Ben Hogan, 1954

Store Up Your Power (June, 1954)

Hogan's accuracy was his biggest trademark, especially off the tee. But while he rarely missed fairways, he was also one of the longest hitters of his era. To accomplish both, he keyed on delaying his wrist action during the downswing. The result was his famous lag in which he allowed the clubhead to fall well behind the hands -- a move that is probably most closely replicated today by Sergio Garcia.

Golf Digest Resource Center

Gareth Maybin Golf Trick Shots

2011-09-10T22:04:00.000-05:00

What a great fun video that makes you realize there is always more fun and ways to enjoy yourself playing golf. Some of these shots are unbelieveable ... Check 'em out!

Jason Dufner golf swing from down the line

2011-08-13T23:08:00.000-05:00

Brendan Steele Golf Swing

2011-08-13T23:06:00.000-05:00

Under the radar: Keegan Bradley

2011-08-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

Anyone who loves golf has got to love this leader board at the PGA.

Brendan Steele -7, Jason Dufner -7, Keegan Bradley -6, Scott Verplank -5

It just goes to show, if you took Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, and Lee Westwood, you would have 4 completely different swings and 4 great golfers.

That was then this is now ... Today, we have 4 completely different swings from 3 new players and one great veteran. Completely different swings. Seriously, take a look at these moves, not only are they different looking swings ... but they are also far from text book in most aspects of the swing. But, as we all know, the bottom line is how well you can repeatably deliver the same expected type of shot to play your own game and win!

Great luck you four and to the rest of the field in THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP!

Good Golfing to you and God Bless!

Who are these guys? They might not remain anonymous long: Local Knowledge: Golf Digest

2011-08-13T22:07:00.000-05:00

Who are these guys? They might not remain anonymous long: Local Knowledge: Golf Digest: "Comments (0)"

Ben Hogan's 'Modern Fundamentals of Golf' - Instruction - Golf.com

2011-05-22T18:36:00.001-05:00

Ben Hogan's 'Modern Fundamentals of Golf' - Instruction - Golf.com:

"Ben Hogan's Modern Fundamentals of Golf, a classic of golf instruction, first ran as a series in Sports Illustrated in 1957. (He wrote it with Herbert Warren Wind.) The magazine described it this way: 'The greatest golfer of our time has distilled all of his knowledge, his experience aid his perceptions into five extraordinary lessons which he believes will enable the average golfer to shoot in the 70s. Beginning with this issue and continuing for the next four, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is privileged to present the fruits of Hogan's wisdom.' Below are the articles from the series:"

If you have never read this book, you are either:

A. Someone who cannot read.
B. Someone who sort of likes golf ...
C. Excited about bogeys.
D. Or don't know what you are missing.

If you love golf and enjoy playing well. You simply must read this book, but once you do, you can never go back. It's a little bit like going into the Matrix ... but in a good way!

Good Luck in your golf and God Bless!

10 Rules From Bubba Watson: Golf Digest

2011-05-08T08:52:00.002-05:00

10 Rules From Bubba Watson: Golf Digest:

"6. Tee Off Like You Just Made Bogey
We all get a little angry at times after making a dumb bogey or double. How many times when that happens do we just get up on the next hole and rip it down the middle? A lot. The reason is, you're so distracted by being mad that you don't strategize too much or get balled up with swing mechanics. Try to hit every tee shot that way. Use emotion more than thought. It's amazing how your body will respond to plain old desire."

Thanks Golf Digest and Bubba for this article. This is a good fun article for a few reasons!

1. I love golf.
2. I like Bubba and his have fun attitude, he is a guy I think would be a lot of fun to tee it up with. Although I'd probably need a few holes to get used to someone hitting it past me.
3. Chicks Dig The Long Ball! At least that's what the subtitle was in the May 2000 article in Maximum Golf that I did about how to hit it longer. Ahhh good times, good times!

Let's be honest, it's flat out fun to nail it! I hope this year is your best year for driving the ball ever. I plan to devote the bulk of my posts this golf season to driving the ball so look for more Bubba and more tips on crushing it throughout the season.

Yours Truly,
Big Dog

10 Rules From Bubba Watson Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

2011-05-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

10 Rules From Bubba Watson Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

Bubba Watson wows crowd with trick shots at Quail Hollow - Press Tent

2011-05-04T23:43:00.001-05:00

Bubba Watson wows crowd with trick shots at Quail Hollow - Press Tent:
"CHARLOTTE, N.C.—On the fourth green early Wednesday morning at Quail Hollow, Bubba Watson turned his back to the hole, putted the ball up a big slope and watched it trickle back down toward the hole.
The crowd started cheering as the ball inched closer and closer to the hole. Watson pulled out the flagstick, stuck his arms in the air and smiled when the ball found the bottom of the cup.
“I was just being dumb,” Watson said after the pro-am. “I knew it was going to come back to the hole. I didn’t think I could make it, and make it on the first try, but somehow it went in.”
What Watson calls “being dumb” is another way of saying he’s just trying to have fun. And it’s a key reason why he’s won three times in the last year, earned a spot on last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team and now sits at No. 10 in the World Golf Rankings."

Bubba, God Bless you man, you are a good dude that understands that life is not a dress rehearsal and it's ok to show emotion, have fun, and make people smile. Along the way your efforts might not be perfect and not everyone will have fun or share the same emotion, but, a good friend of mine reminds me that the only perfect person on the planet who ever lived died on a cross so the rest of us don't have to be perfect. So Bubba, you are an inspiration and a great big smile producing friend to many and let us all never forget that in the end it is about having fun and giving effort, not being perfect.

Happy Golfing to everyone in the beginning of this great 2011 golfing season nationwide!

Players on the W I D E Open:

2011-03-13T12:33:00.001-05:00

Players on the W I D E Open:

Click the link to read about a really refreshing twist on the game we love!

The Clay Pigeon Golf Shot

2011-02-21T17:08:00.000-06:00

How good is this! Golfers are unlike athletes in any other sport, even when we are just monkeying around we are giving it all we have. This is so fun, check it out!

Steve Stricker: Steal My Feel Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

2011-02-16T15:07:00.001-06:00

Steve Stricker: Steal My Feel Golf Instruction: Golfdigest.com

February 2011

My consistency off the tee really started to improve when I switched to a neutral grip, with the back of my left hand facing the target. My main focus now is trying to swing my left hand back into that position at impact.

You can see here that I'm in the process of taking my grip. The first thing I do is point the back of my left hand to my target. Then I grip the club with my right hand. If I set my hands on the club like this and the clubface is square behind the ball, then I have a neutral grip. From there, I try to feel as if I'm returning my left hand at impact so it faces the target again (right).
If you prefer a weaker or stronger grip but still want to focus on accuracy, check the position of your left hand at address when the clubface is square. Then try to match that hand position at impact. You'll deliver a square face for straighter tee shots.

STEVE STRICKER, No. 5 in the World Golf Ranking, has won nine times on the PGA Tour.

I like this idea presented here by Steve Stricker and Golf Digest especially at this time of the year when the snow is starting to melt in Chicago. This will help people find more fairways to start off the season for a couple of reasons: #1. It will make you inadvertently shorten your swing a little, and #2. this will help your hands and wrists deliver the club back to square and hit it straight.

This is a nice idea for people to gravitate towards in the beginning of the year especially because it is not a "moving part idea" which are tough to incorporate and really tough to work on when you are really rusty and just really need to work on solid ball striking.

A few more days of this warm weather and I would not doubt that a couple of courses around here might try to get the golf season going early!

Good Luck and God Bless You and Your Game!

Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2011-02/steal-feel-stricker#ixzz1E9sZgisG

Tour Stats | Tours & News | Golf.com

2011-02-12T09:43:00.000-06:00

Tour Stats Tours & News Golf.com

Bubba Watson #1 on Tour in Driving Distance 316.3 yards
Mark Wilson #1 on Tour Money List $2,098,700
Zach Johnson #1 on Tour Driving Accuracy 84.09% of Fairways
Vaughn Taylor #1 on Tour Putting Average 1.655 putts per green
Mark Wilson #1 on Tour Scrambling, getting up and down 76.6% of the time
Bill Haas & Matt Kuchar #1 with Top 10 finishes with 3
Nick Watney #1 on Tour Scoring Avg. with 68.94
Tim Clark #1 on Tour with Greens in Regulation with 83.33%
Matt Kuchar leads Presidents Cup Eligiblity

Congratulations on some guys who seem to be getting better every year and especially fellow cheesehead Mark Wilson for his two victories this season!

The luckiest golf shot ever-- Darren Clarke

2011-02-10T11:45:00.000-06:00

Everyone needs a little luck during those really good rounds and to make the not so good rounds a little more bearable. This just brings a smile to my face and I hope it does to yours as well.

Have a great day!

Bubba Watson Juices Up Trick Shot Video

2011-01-31T10:29:00.000-06:00

Talk about someone who makes golf fun! Bubba also shows us that one of the secrets to golf and happiness is not taking yourself too seriously. Bubba you da man! I hope you win the Masters this year! In honor of his 2nd PGA Tour Victory this weekend. I wanted to share with you a side of Bubba that you may not be aware of.

Have a great week and have fun like Bubba!

Ageless and helpful conversation from The Spirit of Golf

2011-01-31T09:21:00.000-06:00

The excerpt below is from The Spirit of Golf
www.myspiritofgolf.com/

Belief precedes what we can imagine; not the other way around. In other words, I can only imagine possibilities and scenarios that line up with what I first believe I can or cannot do. If I believe I have a great short game, for example, my imagination is going to be much more creative, inventive and, yes, believable than if I am locked into states of anxiety or fear over my chipping and pitching. If I likewise believe that I am a terrible putter, it becomes difficult for me to imagine I can make a lot of putts. We can work on the physical parts of our games as much as we like, but without improved belief, the proof cannot arrive.

I would solemnly agree that every professional athlete out there, and for that matter, anyone who is at the top of their profession believes in themself. There is obviously a correlation between ability, experience, confidence, and self doubt but the fact remains that you can't become great without believing in yourself and you cannot stay great or be near your best with out believing in yourself. What a fantastic golf tournament in San Diego yesterday, there were some incredible examples of playing to win and believing in yourself at that tournament. Guys out there not - trying to be the best - but actually being their best! Be the best you, you can be and see your golf game and self image at their all time highs!

Have a great week!

P.s. Congratulations to Bubba Watson, you are a class act and I will surely follow this up with some great info on you and your victory in San Diego!

Padraig Harrington shoots 65 at 2011 Abu Dhabi Championship amidst multiple swing changes - Tours & News - Golf.com

2011-01-20T22:21:00.001-06:00

Padraig Harrington shoots 65 at 2011 Abu Dhabi Championship amidst multiple swing changes - Tours & News - Golf.com:

Here's a small piece of today's article from Golf.com

"It sounds as if Harrington is perpetually struggling to be content with himself and his game. But, as it often is with this Irishman, the opposite is invariably the truth.
'I'm complicated, but not eccentric,' he said smiling. 'I'm the most optimistic person you'll meet. The day I don't have something to work on, I probably won't be as excited to get up in the morning.'
Harrington admitted that he is still a work in progress, and he had one more word of wisdom to share — a quote from his swing guru, Torrance: 'The difference between a great player and a good player is a good player can play great when the feeling is upon him; whereas, a great player can play good when he wants to.'
'I'll leave with you that one,' Harrington said laughing."

It's no secret that I am a fan of Padraig Harrington. He's a great guy, he's funny, he's top in the world in golf, he loves golf, and it seems as though he is a good husband and father too! What's not to like? So, I'd like to share this article with you. It's entertaining and it shows, for as great of a golfer as he is, he is very much human. We can all relate to Padgraig, and I also believe he relates to us. Click the link above to read the whole story.

Have a great weekend!

Go Packers and God Bless.
Brian

Sport Science Happy Gilmore

2011-01-16T22:51:00.000-06:00

Those of you who know me know I love to let the big dog eat. "Chicks did the long ball", or atleast that was the lead caption in a golf instruction article I was involved in a few years back. Some of my friends still rib me about that ...

Anyway, this is definitely something I am going to have to master in 2011! I think I will try to get my 4 year old son Alex to work on this with me this summer. Won't we be a hit at the driving range! I'll be sure to post video of us doing it when the snow melts!

Have a great week and God Bless!
Brian

Ben Crane - On Working Out

2011-01-16T22:33:00.000-06:00

2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions provides plenty of fireworks - Tours & News - Golf.com

2011-01-12T11:04:00.001-06:00

2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions provides plenty of fireworks - Tours & News - Golf.com

HAT'S OFF: Byrd, who got into the field by virtue of a walk-off ace in his final start of 2010, beat Garrigus on the second playoff hole, then tipped his cap to his gracious opponent.

What a great win for a great guy. I don't know Jonathan Byrd personally but his reputation on Tour is very strong and he is respected quite a lot for his character besides his golf game. Congratulations Jonathan!

Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2041898,00.html#ixzz1AqF1lNDK

VIDEO: G-Mac's bid for BBC Sports Personality of the Year - Press Tent

2010-12-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

VIDEO: G-Mac's bid for BBC Sports Personality of the Year - Press Tent

A champion with a criticized yet effective swing with a happening personality? Talk about a celebrity. Graeme could wind up getting a Talk Show before Conan does. Cheers and continued success to Graeme McDowell in 2011 and beyond. Graeme's positivity and winning attitude are a testament to all of us out there who knows it is knows that it life it is decided as much by attitude as it is by aptitude. Also, from a swing experts point of view his success is also proof that rhythm and balance have as much to do with solid ball striking as perfect path and plane. Graeme shows us all that an inside move from the top does not always have to result in a hook as long as you do some other darn good things in your swing.

Happy Holidays and God Bless,

Brian

Graeme McDowell Slow Motion Swing

2010-12-06T20:48:00.001-06:00

When Graeme won the US Open in June some people thought he was quite an underdog. At that time I mentioned that he had previously been in the 2008 Ryder Cup Squad for the Europeans and had been ranked in the top 50 in the world. So, not a shock when an Irish guy with those credentials puts it all together on an Oceanside venue to win the US Open. Now, G-Mac, the star of the Ryder Cup for the Europeans in October wins again in royal fashion this year by beating Tiger Woods in a playoff. A likable guy who played college golf at a lesser known NCAA golf program at The University of Alabama Birmingham.

Here are 3 things that I really like about Graeme's Swing.

1. His backswing is on the shorter side. In some respects and certainly in Graeme's case, a shorter backswing means less room the club travels away from the ball and then more of a chance it will consistently come back to the ball the for solid contact in the middle of the clubface.
2, Good Concentration on the ball with a nice still head. Eventually his head starts to move downward just slightly as his club is coming into the ball from the way he uses his legs for power.
3. A great fluid and full finish which is really just a product and continuation of his smooth move through the ball.

Great Season Graeme, Here's to a similar 2011 and beyond!

Happy Holidays and God Bless - Brian

Lama Kunga Rinpoche enjoys the game of golf

2010-11-30T16:43:00.000-06:00

2005 ESPY Award Winning ESPN Short Story with my friend Lama Kunga and Me.