tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52640992172008165362016-02-22T09:22:53.950-07:00The Art of Golf, Utah golf lessons by Weston Maughan.The Art of golf: free online golf lessons, video swing analysis, and golf instruction by Weston Maughan. Weston Maughan teaches private and group golf lessons in Utah county at Thanksgiving Point Golf Course.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-58106320610529858302010-06-12T21:26:00.003-06:002010-06-12T23:06:25.064-06:00Golf Lesson #12, Quiet feetI was flipping through the Golf Digest this evening and I noticed a wonderful example of quiet feet. This picture below is of Fred Couples. It is actually an article about his shoes, but I couldn't help notice his fantastic foot work during his golf swing. I saw that Fred was rolling his back foot towards the target through impact keeping his hips behind his hands and arms. This exact teaching was hammered into Jack Nicklaus by his golf teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/TBRQQSYfHNI/AAAAAAAAAG4/pBOHEJcs1no/s1600/golf+lesson.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/TBRQQSYfHNI/AAAAAAAAAG4/pBOHEJcs1no/s320/golf+lesson.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482094887159405778" /></a><br /><br />It is a commonly known that Fred Couples is known as a pretty long hitter. In fact, he is averaging 298 yards on the champions tour this year. The reason I bring this up is because Fred is proof that you don't need an active lower body (feet, legs, and hips) to produce a fast swing speed. He is producing above average results with minimal lower body activity.<br /><br />Keeping your lower body quiet helps you in many ways. For one, it reduces tension and strain on the lower back. Fred Couples is also known for having a bad back. It is no wonder that his swing is like this, to reduce lower back strain. A quiet lower body also eliminates the possibility of getting stuck. Most golfers looking for speed in their swing try and increase club head speed through quick hip movements which causes their upper body to lag behind the hips and forces your hands to be open at impact. a major cause of slicing. <br /><br />Keep your feet quiet by swinging within yourself. If you need more distance, just club up. If you want more distance, give me a call and I'll give you a golf lesson.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-18306601616091945452010-05-25T21:00:00.004-06:002010-05-25T22:15:32.477-06:00Golf Lesson #11. Putting Check ListI was playing golf this past weekend with some friends and family at Old Mill, a local Utah golf course, and through the first couple holes I really wasn't putting the ball all that well. I then analyzed my putting and went through my check list for certain things that I was supposed to remember when I putt. Because I had a check list to ensure I was executing my stroke correctly, I was able to find a flaw in my stroke. I wasn't leaning on my front foot. Once I spotted the problem, I then leaned on my front leg, trying to create a 60/40 weight displacement with the majority of the weight on my front leg. I then started putting the ball with better speed and consistency, and I even made a couple birdies too. Be sure to have a check list of your own for your putting so when you notice a little inconsistency you can work it out and get back on track.<br /><br />Here is my check list:<br /><br />1. Stance (shoulder width apart)<br />2. Ball position (forward in stance)<br />3. Posture (Slightly flexed knees, back straight, bend at the hips)<br />4. Weight distribution (60/40 on front foot)<br />5. Keep the putter on plane with my forearms<br />6. Firm wrists <br />7. Keep my head steady<br />8. Swing with the shoulders<br /><br /><br />My check list is a bit long, but they are very important parts to my putting stroke. I highly recommend compiling together a check list for your routine so when you are noticing something a little out of the ordinary in your game, you can get it straightened out while you play. I suggest a shorter list with maybe 4 or 5 points to emphasize on, or if you have a good memory, go with more. This is also great for full swing and chipping.<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed this golf lesson. Please comment with more questions about areas of your game that you are looking to improve, and I'll write a post just for you. Thanks for reading.<br /><br />Weston MaughanWeston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-42608715670178258472010-05-08T22:02:00.002-06:002010-05-08T22:14:36.668-06:00Golf Lesson #10, Putting TipThis Video Golf lesson emphasizes the importance of keeping your head steady on short putts. A common mistake for many golfers, is to be anxious when they are putting close to the hole. This anxiousness cause many golfers to follow the ball with their eyes and head, causing their body to swing across the correct line and pull the putt. Watch this online video golf lesson for a great tip to avoid this tendency.<br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-338df9333dcf3563" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/get_player"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D338df9333dcf3563%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3D4539430F24B95A453A12660B6C98661335FFD091.3486B52A678EE605398B059483FB4135D23D5AB9%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D338df9333dcf3563%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DmCNzj41qPrZOKVtjd0987qd02cg&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"><embed src="//www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D338df9333dcf3563%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3D4539430F24B95A453A12660B6C98661335FFD091.3486B52A678EE605398B059483FB4135D23D5AB9%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D338df9333dcf3563%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DmCNzj41qPrZOKVtjd0987qd02cg&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object>Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-46125117826459767362010-05-04T02:04:00.004-06:002010-05-05T23:36:39.304-06:00Golf Lesson #9, BunkersThis online video golf lesson focuses on some key fundamentals by Weston Maughan, when it comes to bunker play. This video will cover:<br /><br />1. Alignment<br />2. Ball Position<br />3. Club Face Angle<br />4. Swing<br /><br />Stay tuned for next week as we focus on putting. Please allow me to give a special thanks to Thanksgiving Point Golf Course, in Lehi, Utah for allowing me to film on their practice facility<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-df02bfe2d67a7798" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/get_player"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Ddf02bfe2d67a7798%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3DB51567C94EBBEE5E1BE452E60D2CA1AD30F2E4E6.7CBDC4DE171C3A985EC3F5BBF154D2BEEEBBC76B%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Ddf02bfe2d67a7798%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D_pVo2dloQP6-C-8Z75QylTq20gI&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"><embed src="//www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3Ddf02bfe2d67a7798%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3DB51567C94EBBEE5E1BE452E60D2CA1AD30F2E4E6.7CBDC4DE171C3A985EC3F5BBF154D2BEEEBBC76B%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Ddf02bfe2d67a7798%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D_pVo2dloQP6-C-8Z75QylTq20gI&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object>Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-87639368394588878002010-04-24T08:52:00.008-06:002010-05-05T23:36:31.978-06:00Golf Lesson #8, ChippingHere are some basic principles in this video golf lesson for chipping. The major factors in chipping that this video goes over are:<br /><br />1. Stance and Posture<br />2. Ball Placement<br />3. Hand Placement<br /><br />These fundamentals in chipping will establish a sound foundation for your short game. If these elements are mastered, minor adjustment can be made to bring your short game to the next level. Enjoy this Golf lesson, and stay posted as more online golf lessons will be posted shortly.<br /><br /><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-57aea3b59a6c0108" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/get_player"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D57aea3b59a6c0108%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3D0C1C254E759194D1F1EEA49B1E2681B601C9E338.23B13BEF8DAA3387BEAC6C141A22B45EF77B63AC%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D57aea3b59a6c0108%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D52NW78QVLjk9Lx5l-Hg0xeQ0waM&autoplay=0&ps=blogger"><embed src="//www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="flvurl=http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D57aea3b59a6c0108%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dblogger%26app%3Dblogger%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%3Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1458305659%26sparams%3Dip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,source%26signature%3D0C1C254E759194D1F1EEA49B1E2681B601C9E338.23B13BEF8DAA3387BEAC6C141A22B45EF77B63AC%26key%3Dck2&iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D57aea3b59a6c0108%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3D52NW78QVLjk9Lx5l-Hg0xeQ0waM&autoplay=0&ps=blogger" allowFullScreen="true" /></object>Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-1124011628550793392010-02-28T14:55:00.006-07:002010-05-05T23:36:59.827-06:00Golf Lesson #7, Ball striking tipsOne little tip I have for better ball striking has to do with depth Perception.<br /><br />Most golfers will make a few practice swings before the set up to their shot. A great drill they will usually do is brushing the ground with their practice swing. This is a great method to adjust for undulations in the ground.<br /><br />What is important to notice is that the golfer is focusing on the ground and how the club brushes it. Once they set up to the ball, they will then focus on the top of the golf ball. The depth change from the ground to the top of the ball will change by about 1 and a 1/2 inches in regular fairway conditions.<br /><br />The golfer, now focusing on the top of the ball, starts his swing and will often top his shot or hit it thin. Believe it or not, the brain will make subtle adjustments for your swing regarding even a 1 and a 1/2 inch depth change.<br /><br />Tip: So to adjust for this change, remember to still brush the ground during your golf swing or you just might brush the top of the ball. Some like to focus on the back of the golf ball. Some will still focus on the top of the golf ball, but they have developed a swing that is consistent and can feel where the club needs to be rather than using the regular senses like vision.<br /><br />A sound understanding of golf swing mechanics is great knowledge to possess. But even the best slip a little and let their brain make changes to their swing. Good thing we have swing coaches. Stay tuned for some new additions in video golf lessons.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-31734326632223550782010-02-22T22:39:00.008-07:002011-02-11T00:02:41.536-07:00Golf Lesson #6, Starting the down swing.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Lucida Sans;font-size:100%;" ><strong>"Once I reach the top of my swing...should I start the swing by pulling down with the butt of the club or should I start the swing with the left knee moving toward the target?"</strong></span><br /><br />Well, When I think about one of the greatest swings in the game of golf I think of Jack Nicklaus. The precepts that he used to groove his swing is a foundation to which I build my thoughts of teaching.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S4Nrff-TWUI/AAAAAAAAAF0/72n5g_ffKhk/s1600-h/jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S4Nrff-TWUI/AAAAAAAAAF0/72n5g_ffKhk/s320/jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441310963696621890" border="0" /></a><br />In Jack's classic swing, Jack set up more on top of the ball, with his right leg angled inward. He said as he got older that his body was not able to make as strong a lateral move to the impact position. his chin is still slightly turned to his right, allowing him to make a bigger shoulder turn. Jack always wanted his chest and his shoulders to react to the swinging of the arms and club during the transition. Note Jack replanted his left heel toward the target, which kept his hip from opening too soon. (Golf Digest, VOL. 58, NO.10)<br /><br />Because of this principle of the body and shoulders needing to react to the swinging of the arms, I would insist that pulling down the club with the left hand be the initial motion to trigger the golf swing.<br /><br />Jack always kept the arms in front of the body because everything else followed. This method of the arms staying in front of the body allowed him to never get "stuck."<br /><br />Jack also used a technique he called rolling his ankles to control the rhythm of the lower body. He always maintained his feet on the ground from the transition at the top to the impact zone.<br /><br />The principles I believe in are feet on the ground and hands in front of the body. It is quite simple but it really gets the job done quite nicely.<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-26284616733800899632010-01-25T16:39:00.006-07:002010-05-05T23:37:26.009-06:00Golf Lesson #5, Weight TransferMy first video golf lesson post!<br /><br />I'd like to thank my brothers, Tyson and Brad, for helping me put this together in such a quick amount of time. I hope you enjoy the first video golf lesson for the Art of Golf. I hope to do many more. enjoy!<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cShQkw7A3pM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cShQkw7A3pM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />If you have any further questions about this video golf lesson, or any other topic that I can make a video golf lesson for, I would love to hear from you! <br /><br />WestonWeston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-41054146402815761322010-01-11T07:54:00.013-07:002010-05-05T23:37:35.454-06:00Golf Lesson #4, Setting the WristsA very common cause of poor mechanics is usually associated with the setting of the wrists during the back swing. 7 times out of 10, it is not happening. Most amateurs will bypass this important mechanic in an attempt to create more lag during the down swing, trying to build more power. In most cases, this swing technique will produce inconsistencies during contact, which then results in less distance, regardless of a slight increase in swing speed. In most cases your swing speed will be decreased due to poor mechanics.<br /><br /><br />"Setting the wrists" is the act of bending your wrists towards you on the back swing, creating a "right" angle (about 90 degrees). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tlbpeMwDI/AAAAAAAAAEY/-vefCV4udu4/s1600-h/90*.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tlbpeMwDI/AAAAAAAAAEY/-vefCV4udu4/s320/90*.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425541701761286194" border="0" /></a>The moment of when you set the wrists during the back swing is somewhat irrelevant. Johnny Miller, winner of 25 PGA tour events, including the U.S. OPEN and British Open always set his wrists early. Phil Mickelson, winner of 37 PGA tour events including 2 Masters and a PGA Championship sets his wrists late in the back swing. There really is no wrong time to do it, as long as it is being done, correctly.<br /><br />Common Error #1: Re-gripping<br /><br />A Common error that occurs during the back swing is the wrists being overextend in their "set.'' This occurs during the transition of the back swing to the down swing. This erroneous action usually results in a re-gripping of the golf club. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tlwBbNE0I/AAAAAAAAAEg/7tGmtODYAwM/s1600-h/IMG_0583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tlwBbNE0I/AAAAAAAAAEg/7tGmtODYAwM/s320/IMG_0583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425542051788559170" border="0" /></a>It is also the main reason some of you have rips and tares in your golf gloves regardless of how new or old they are. This tare always occurs in the left hand on the palm because of re-gripping during the swing. If the club is let go of and re-gripped at any time during the swing, you will lose the solid connection of a stable grip and it will not be recreated during the motion of the swing. If the club is re-gripped during the swing the face angle will change as well, resulting in a near impossible situation of trying to return the club to the square position at impact.<br /><br />Common Error #2: Breaking down of the wrist.<br /><br />Another error that commonly occurs during the "setting of the wrists" is when the golfer wants his back swing to be longer, therefore breaking the wrists down, in an attempt to set the wrists with a greater potential for lag at the top of the back swing. This action is setting the wrist under the recommended 90 degree angle, creating an acute angle. To achieve this without re-gripping the club, your left wrist will buckle and break down. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tmtyVsatI/AAAAAAAAAEo/yUYE6DfUgYU/s1600-h/bad+wrist+set.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tmtyVsatI/AAAAAAAAAEo/yUYE6DfUgYU/s320/bad+wrist+set.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425543112890804946" border="0" /></a>This break down then opens the club face at the top of the back swing never allowing it enough time to rotate through, causing a severe slice at impact, also resulting in a huge loss of distance.<br /><br />Proper Wrist setting is displayed in the photos below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tYaam8WqI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bEkOG4l8Hyc/s1600-h/PhilTiger+Wrist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tYaam8WqI/AAAAAAAAAD4/bEkOG4l8Hyc/s320/PhilTiger+Wrist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425527386940398242" border="0" /></a>Both Phil and Tiger show perfectly set wrists at the top of their back swing. A wrist that is flat with the forearm is ideal, but not always necessary in every ones golf sing. Another note, the club face is perfectly parallel with the left wrist, which promotes a square club face through the entire swing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tZTJOI_cI/AAAAAAAAAEA/d8cAijnNp7I/s1600-h/Benwrist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tZTJOI_cI/AAAAAAAAAEA/d8cAijnNp7I/s320/Benwrist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425528361525509570" border="0" /></a>Ben Hogan also a flat left wrist and fore arm with a square club face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0taDSxat5I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/zLetp0Fg89U/s1600-h/weswrist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0taDSxat5I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/zLetp0Fg89U/s320/weswrist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425529188723111826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tZjGgfGlI/AAAAAAAAAEI/SjrWvr8oBlQ/s1600-h/weswrist2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tZjGgfGlI/AAAAAAAAAEI/SjrWvr8oBlQ/s320/weswrist2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425528635675056722" border="0" /></a>I also maintain a parallel wrist and club face, with a flat wrist and forearm.<br /><br />The correct wrist angle and setting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tnAvEfXlI/AAAAAAAAAEw/BvclbrmRCsY/s1600-h/proper+wrist,grip.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/S0tnAvEfXlI/AAAAAAAAAEw/BvclbrmRCsY/s320/proper+wrist,grip.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425543438430854738" border="0" /></a><br />A Proper wrist setting will allow for more control and power transfer through the golf swing. Your swing will stay solid and you won't have to worry much about face angle because it will stay square due to proper positioning.<br /><br />Tip: To achieve proper positioning, First, a proper grip must be used (see Lesson #3). Second, practice steady back swings allowing the wrist to stay strong and firm during the "set" of the back swing. Look back at your hands at the top of your back swing and notice if the back of your hand and forearm are aligned. Try and "set" your back swing at a 90 degree angle. Try not to go beyond 90 degrees. Repeat the motion for several minutes before practice. Constantly repeat the motion to create muscle memory. Once you have set the wrist on your back swing, swing through to a balanced finish, feeling the motions of your arms and wrists firm and connected. Once you have created the muscle memory through hours of practice it will become natural, and you won't think of it much after that.<br /><br />Any questions? comment here.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-60792866085070632942009-11-11T16:19:00.008-07:002010-05-05T23:37:46.068-06:00Golf Lesson #3, Proper grip.All too often I find golfers with grips that are way too strong. In my professional opinion, a proper golf grip is considered a very weak grip by most standards. I call it neutral. I also prefer that beginning golfers start with a neutral grip. This allows beginners to develop proper releasing as they practice, while learning how to control their wrists during the swing. Ideally there is little rotation of the hands through impact.<br /><br />I have seen too many golfers with strong grips rely on that strong position to release the club for them, which usually results in a weak left to right shot. Or if they decide to release the club, it results in a fast moving snap hook. A proper release allows so much more power to transfer to the ball.<br /><br />So, lets construct a neutral grip:<br /><br />Step 1: Place your left hand on the grip. The most important part of the grip is actually holding on to the club. Some of you might laugh at that, but you would be surprised at how many people let go of the club while they swing.<br /><br />Make sure that there is about 1/4 in. to 1/3 in. spacing between the butt of the club and where the palm of your left hand is placed. Always keep your left palm on the grip, "NOT" hanging off the edge. Hanging your hand off the end of the grip cause your gloves to tare quicker and you don't have all of your hand on the club which can cause re-gripping during the back swing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtVDlLtqvI/AAAAAAAAADc/ethEH8BIfTQ/s1600-h/left+hand+side.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtVDlLtqvI/AAAAAAAAADc/ethEH8BIfTQ/s320/left+hand+side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403005697970252530" border="0" /></a><br />Step 2: Place the thumb on top of the grip. Imagine if there was a line drawn down the middle of the grip. Your thumb would be placed ever so slightly to the left. This is the key to starting a neutral grip. Most amateurs roll their left hand over to far to the left creating an overly strong grip which reduces wrist mobility. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtVfHKjqYI/AAAAAAAAADk/rUFJBfZZ6sU/s1600-h/left+hand.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtVfHKjqYI/AAAAAAAAADk/rUFJBfZZ6sU/s320/left+hand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403006170948675970" border="0" /></a>Step 3: place your right hand on top of your left hand. A very easy way to know if your hand is in the correct spot is to notice the path of your "life line" on your right hand, and place it directly over your left thumb. You will notice that your left thumb fits very snug with the inside of your right hand. You should be able to see at least two full knuckles on your right hand when you look down. Most amateurs roll this hand too far under the grip. A right hand too far under can cause a very hard hook if it becomes active during the impact zone. Take notice of the "V" formed by the top hand. It bi-sects the grip right down the middle. This is a sure sign of a neutral grip.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtW1Ira-yI/AAAAAAAAADs/GEpcpJBsSAE/s1600-h/right+hand+placement.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/SvtW1Ira-yI/AAAAAAAAADs/GEpcpJBsSAE/s320/right+hand+placement.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403007648823704354" border="0" /></a><br />Step 4: Interlock, overlap or ten finger are all great methods. To each their own. I happen to have the hands of an ape, so I prefer overlap. If you have smaller hands, interlock might feel more secure. Be sure to grip the club lightly. if you ever see white knuckles, that is a sure sign of gripping it too hard. My favorite saying is, "it is like holding a tube of tooth paste, firm enough to hold it but soft enough to not squeeze any paste out." If you put a good jerk on my club while it was in my hands, it would come right out.<br /><br />If you try this grip, and you are more accustomed to a stronger grip, this grip will feel very weak. It will feel very uncomfortable too. It will give you the sense that you couldn't hit the ball and that you couldn't give a good lash at the ball. This feeling will go away after time.<br /><br />If you naturally hit the ball left, this grip will straighten you out very quickly. This is because you already have an active release during the swing. If you slice the ball, this grip will still slice the ball. If this is the case, you will need to start practicing on releasing the club through the impact zone because you have probably ingrained a "holding off" motion through impact and a you have relied on a strong grip to straighten the face out during impact. If this is the case, call me, and I'll get you figured out.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-14374055221852570592009-10-28T21:08:00.005-06:002010-05-05T23:37:58.768-06:00Golf Lesson #2, Hitting Your Irons Better.Whether you are a long hitter or a short hitter, having a solid iron game is key to a great golf game. Hitting long drives is great, but knocking it close is even better.<br /><br />There are a lot of things that can lead to striking your irons well. So, I'm going to touch on something that I would rank as most important for hitting good irons.<br /><br />Balance:<br /> <br />Balance has always been my favorite lesson. It truly is the key to hitting great irons. When you are balanced it means that a lot of good things are happening, so I'll list them. First off it means you are swinging within yourself. If you were to swing as hard as you could, while still trying to stay in control, this would be considered 110%. A balanced swing usually falls into the 65% - 75% of total swing power. This type of swing is calm and with tempo. It is the kind of swing that when it is finished, you stay standing with your arms finished above or behind your head. It is also the swing that allows the feet to not slip during the swing. A great way to monitor your balance is to hit golf balls on the range. After every swing, take notice of your finished swing and answer some of these questions.<br /><br />Are you still standing in the same place that you started?<br /><br />Is your left foot still planted in it's starting position, or did it spin out and leave your left foot's toes pointing more towards your target?<br /><br />Is most of your weight balanced over your left foot, or are you still putting weight on your right foot?<br /><br />Is your right foot up on it's toes supporting no weight, or is it kicked out to the right side?<br /><br />Did you fall back? forward? to the left? to the right?<br /><br />If you answered "YES" to some of these questions, then balance is definitely something to work on. A lot of these results mentioned above are factors of swinging outside your comfort zone. If you swing in the 65% to 75% range, you should stay very balanced. There will be some sacrificed distance, but the pay off will be much greater. For instance, you normally hit a 7 iron 165, but you often lose your balance after the shot, and you hit your 7 iron great only 50% of the time. If you could tone it down a little, and swing within yourself, you could hit a balanced 7 iron 155 - 160, but you would hit it great 75% of the time.<br /><br />It really comes down to how important your ego is. If you don't mind hitting a 7 iron 10 yards shorter, but great most the time, then you have excepted the importance of accuracy over distance.<br /><br />The good news is, as your sense of balance becomes more refined, your ability to swing faster and harder will increase as well. Hence regaining your distance and retaining your accuracy. And in most cases, gaining even more distance.<br /><br />Go to the range and take notice of your swing's finish. The result can always trace you back to the cause. <br /><br /><br />Here is a tip to help you swing smoother and within your self.<br /><br />Some might think this a bit odd, but proper breathing can really loosen up a swing. Try this drill to swing within yourself.<br /><br />Just before you take your swing, take in a deep breath and let it out immediately. Once the air has left your lungs, you will notice that your rib cage is no longer tight. Your lungs are not holding in very much air and you will see that you can turn much easier. You will feel that your core muscles won't have to fight the tension of your lungs and diaphragm containing all that air during the golf swing. The release of air and deep breathing will also slow you down before you pull the trigger. Try this before every swing and you will see yourself swinging more relaxed and within yourself.Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5264099217200816536.post-13078099077150575352009-10-18T15:12:00.013-06:002010-05-05T23:38:08.474-06:00Golf Lesson #1, Hip RotationProblem: Many golfers believe that a proper swing contains open hips at impact. Jim Hardy's "The Plane Truth", Is a huge supporter of very open hips at impact. Indeed, open hips at impact are essential to a sound swing. The question to ask is how much. The answer is as <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">little</span> as possible, despite Hardy's Theory. If you can swing, and return the hips as close to their starting position as possible at impact, you will have a very consistent golf swing. If at impact you tend to have more open hips, you will have a very inconsistent swing, no matter how athletic you are. you'll have good and bad days. The reasons are this:<br /><br />#1 If the swing is started with lower body rotation towards the target, a natural occurrence of the hands following the swing occurs. When the hands are trailing, this causes the right elbow to get slotted behind the right side of the body resulting in the common phrase "stuck." There are 2 ways to hit the ball when in this position. Maintain the current swing and enter the impact area with late hands resulting in a severely open face causing a monstrous block with a slice. Or speeding up the rotation of the hands that causes a plethora of timing issues in the impact zone most likely resulting in a snap hook. The blocked slice is the most common occurrence.<br /><br />#2 A quick release of the hips also causes open shoulders at impact further reducing an accurate golf swing, also limiting the desired swing thought of extending through the impact zone to your target. Open shoulders cause the swing path to continue to the left resulting in an unfinished and abbreviated follow through.<br /><br />#3 A quick release of the hips will also increase the "X factor." (An occurrence when viewed from the top of the swing that results in the shoulders and the hips in a twisted state on the spine creating an X). This occurrence does create more club head speed. As this factor increases, the ability to hit a golf ball a certain distance and in the desired direction is reduced dramatically.<br /><br />#4 A quick release also drives the right side into the ball much to aggressively, resulting in a right foot supporting that swing on it's toes. With soft spikes today, this almost always results in back foot slippage during an aggressive swing furthering the inaccuracy of such a practice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/StunnQyZPWI/AAAAAAAAAB0/_6WWJMsYBso/s1600-h/aggressive+hip+turn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/StunnQyZPWI/AAAAAAAAAB0/_6WWJMsYBso/s320/aggressive+hip+turn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394089271669374306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Y.E.Yang is a great example of athleticism. He did well at the PGA Championship. Unfortunately his game deteriorated at the Presidents Cup. I would elude to his hip turn as being a possible cause for inconsistency.<br /><br />Solution: First off, the most successful golfers in the world have this element of slightly opened hips in common. To name a few, Sam Snead and Tiger Woods (post swing change). This element of a "quiet" lower body increases accuracy and the ability to work the ball. This also allows the hands to have ample room between the hips and the hands to do their job. Quiet hips allows the feet to stay on the ground. When I mention this it refers to the soles of both feet maintaining connection with the ground from start to impact. Feet on the ground results in great balance and proper weight shift. Sure their might be a slight reduction in distance on the fly, but your accuracy will be much improved and the roll you get from each drive landing in the fairway will greatly out measure the distance carried into the rough.<br /><br />Tip: The best drill to date that works on quiet hips and increases balance is a drill that I learned from an article in golf digest written years ago by Davis Love III. His drill was to hit balls using 1/2 swings and 3/4 swings at the practice range with your feet close together. This forces you to start your swing with the upper body. A good note to keep in mind is to start the down swing with the left shoulder. This also improves balance because of the narrow stance. If you practice this drill with 30-50 swings on the range, every time you go hit a bucket, your swing will get more accurate and more balanced.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/StunwVP1iVI/AAAAAAAAAB8/z93qB6_RRzI/s1600-h/Proper+hip+turn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_63nbIKNnZy8/StunwVP1iVI/AAAAAAAAAB8/z93qB6_RRzI/s320/Proper+hip+turn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394089427485428050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kenny Perry is great example of a quiet lower body. He is considered one of the best ball strikers on tour.<br /><br /><br />*Pictures used in this post are from "Golf Digest Magazine"Weston Maughanhttps://plus.google.com/107834311815365544263noreply@blogger.com4