Over my 30 years as a PGA Teaching Professional I have learned that one of the biggest obstacles that holds people back from reaching their golf potential is the gap between perception and reality. What I mean by that is for most golfers there a vast difference between what they think they are doing when they swing the club (perception) and what they are actually doing (reality).

As a result, these golfers spend many hours practicing to build an unreliable swing which is based on timing and compensation. But with the help of a qualified PGA Professional and GolfSense that can all change. I am sure you are familiar with PGA Professionals but please allow me to introduce you to GolfSense.

GolfSense is the world's first portable three dimensional sensor system designed to deliver real-time feedback and analysis of your golf swing. Its patented high velocity motion sensors calculates data at sample rates over 1,000 times per second allowing it to detect the acceleration, velocity, tempo, position and posture of the device and the club.

And all this data is sent wirelessly to your Apple or Android device through a small sensor attached to the velcro of your glove.

But what really closes the perception vs reality gap is that with GolfSense you can actually view your swing from multiple angles which allows you to now see what you are feeling. You may be surprised to learn that your swing looks nothing like you pictured it.

If you are surprised by what your swing looks like, you may be even more surprised to learn that GolfSense gives you everything it does for only $129.99.

With the help of a PGA Professional and the aid of GolfSense during your practice sessions you can accelerate your improvement and gain a greater understanding of your golf swing.

If you want to play better golf or want to help a golfer in your life enjoy the game more get a GolfSense today.

Try this exercise for better strength and speed through impact.

Kneel on one knee while holding a medicine ball or basketball in both hands in front of your body as if you are preparing to hit a golf shot. Next, rotate your upper body the same way you would during a back swing so the ball ends up in the position your club would at the completion of the back swing. Feel the stretch in your back on the side of your body which would be closet to your target.

For your through swing, turn quickly and throw the ball down onto the ground a few feet in front of you toward your target. Turn more from the hips and torso than the arms. Do it near a wall and the ball will bounce back to you.

Contributed by Ryan Hartley, DPT, SCS of Praxis Physical Therapy and Human Performance, Vernon Hills, Illinois.

This will probably be the shortest equipment review you may ever see.

I have been a PGA Golf Professional for almost 3 decades and in that time the ECCO Biom Hybrid golf shoe is easily the most comfortable golf shoe I have ever worn in my career.

If you do not own a pair, I strongly recommend you buy a pair today!

I recently received in the mail a small package from PUTTMARK, a company of with which I was unfamiliar. Being of a skeptical nature, I wasn't sure how a ball marker shaped like a surfboard would aid with putting. So I asked my clients to try a PUTTMARK and give me there feedback.

At this point in time it is important to understand that the most common flaw I see in putting by the average golfer is that they are not aimed where they think. I found that the extended shape and line on the marker made it easier to see the intended putting line and get the putt started correctly. But in the end it was the opinion of my clients' which mattered most.

The opinion which summarized the opinion of the group came from Jerry who said, "I thought it was a gimmick until I used it. Easier to line it up than the line on the ball and then it was very easy to line up the ball".

Aim is just one part of the proper putting formula, to become a better putter contact Scott by clicking here.

The temperature here in Northern Illinois is falling and people have begun to put their clubs away for the season. If you are one of those people you can still improve your game this winter by hitting the books instead of golf balls.

The drill I am going to give you today will focus on the back-swing portion of your swing and the only thing you are going to need is a book.

First, set up as if you are going to make swing, but instead of holding a club place a book between your hands so your palms are facing each other.

Now perform your back-swing while you looking at the book during the motion. This helps you move your core and arms in unison during the motion. Next, come to a stop once you have completed your back-swing. At this point if you are in the correct position, the book will be on an angle of approximately 45-degrees, you will now be able to remove your top hand of the book, and the book will not fall.

By spending 10-15 minutes a day doing this drill for several weeks you will create a better back-swing which will help you start to develop a more consistent swing.

Want to improve your golf game this winter? Let Scott help you in person or online.

The winter months are an important time to prepare your golf game and body for a new season. If you want to play your best injury free golf it is important to have sound swing fundamentals and a strong core, starting with your abdominal muscles. By strengthening your abdominal muscles you will create support for your lower back and help prevent injuries. One of the simplest exercises you can do to get stronger abs is the "Plank".

How to perform the bridge:

Lie down on your stomach with your legs straight and together.

Lift your upper body, bend your elbows at a 90 degree angle so your forearms lie flat on the floor.

Make sure your elbows are aligned directly under your shoulders.

Flex your feet so that your toes are pushing into the floor.

Tighten your entire body and prop yourself up onto your elbows and the tips of your toes.

It is important that your back is flat,legs are straight and you are looking directly down toward the floor.

Hold this position for as long as you can without feeling strain in your low back.

Start your workout with the number of repetitions where you can feel the effect of the exercise without pain.

Try to add time to each repetition and gradually increase the number of repetitions to your workout as the weeks progress.

An important note
When you do the Bridge Exercise for the first time perform your set up in front of a mirror so that you can check that your body position is proper. You will then be able to associate a feeling with how your body looks in the mirror when performing your workout in the future.

To let Scott help you improve your golf game this winter click here.

It might seem odd that I am doing an "Equipment Review" of sunglasses but for me as a PGA Teaching Professional they are an essential piece of equipment. I spend the vast majority of my day outside in all kinds of weather and protecting my eyes is very important.

Margaritaville Eyewear recently entered the sunglasses market and asked me if I would try out a pair and offer my opinion. It took me quite a while to decide whether I was interested. I am normally not interested in products that are affiliated with celebrities because who endorses or owns a product does not encourage me to buy a product, it is usually quite the opposite. One more thing I should add is that I am a skeptic by nature and seldom take a claim at face value.

But as I said, for me sunglasses are an important piece of equipment and I am constantly looking for ones which I think will be a good addition. Margaritaville sunglasses come in 8 different styles like a lot of manufacturers but in each style there are multiple color frame and lense options from which you can choose.

But the thing that struck me immediately when I put them on were the lenses. They are outstanding, very, very clear and virtually no glare. The elimination of glare is extremely important to me because even on fairly cloudy days any little glare really bothers my eyes. The glasses use what is called MPT which blocks out scattered light rays and lets in what they call "corrected light". Personally, I don't know what "corrected light" is but I really liked what a sunny day looked like through these glasses.

Are you having difficulty with your putting or it is not at the the level you wish it to be? It is time to develop a more systematic approach. There are two elements involved in putting, direction and distance. In this post I will be discussing proper aim.

Putter companies like SeeMore Putters have gained success with their Rifle Scope Technology which is a system to help the golfer know that they have aimed correctly.

If you don't have a SeeMore Putter you can improve your aim by using the name on the golf balls as a part of your aiming system. Once you have determined the line on which you want your putt to start, point the name on the ball along that line. Next, double check your line by looking at the putt from 6-8 feet behind the golf balls, if the name is pointed along your intended line you are ready for the next step.

Next, make sure the face of the putter is perpendicular to the name on the ball. Now that the name on the ball and the putter face form a "T" you have aimed correctly. With practice you will be able to quickly and correctly start your putts on their intended line.

In the next post I will discuss the distance control portion of your Putting System.

To improve your putting contact Scott by clicking here.