Original Gooch Instruction Series - Volume 2 - The Punch Drill

Here is a drill that has become a standard of mine for teaching the motion of the arms.  I learned this from Don Wiseman of Michiana Golf in Indiana.  I've made a few modifications.  This is a great drill for learning how the right arm works in the golf swing.  Also, I've found it's a great winter drill so I'll be ready when the snow melts and it warms up outside.

Original Gooch - Instruction Video Series - Volume 1 - The Grip

In the attached video, I've included some simple ideas on the grip that I hope you can apply to your own game.  Comments and questions are welcome.

Hitting At or Swinging Through the ball

Over the years, I've learned to separate the concept of learning the golf swing from learning to strike the ball.  One of my favorite sayings comes from my friend, Mat Blair who teaches in LaPorte, IN.  He told me he never wants to see his students "hitting balls".  What he means by this is that the ball should get in the way of the swinging club-head.  So, it is important to swing "through" the ball all the way to a balanced finish over the left leg.
This is why I emphasize that a golfer works on the new motion without a ball.  Working without a golf ball accomplishes several goals. 

1. The golfer will be able to make the new motion a habit provided the action is repeated daily for three weeks (21 days in a row)
2. The golfer will be developing the muscles used in the new motion
3. When working on a new motion and hitting balls together, adjustments are made for ball flight that may not allow the new motion to develop properly.
4. The drills can be done at home, without having to go out to the practice range.

If they then move to the practice range, I would like to see them work on the motion for three to five times without a ball, and then do the same motion with a ball, always making sure they swing to a full finish.

Over the next coming blogs, I will continue to talk about golf philosophy and start talking about components of the golf swing.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat to attain perfection

I remember giving a lesson to a young lady whose father was a retired military officer.  I talked about how I typically use follow up lessons to reinforce what we have worked on previously.  He offered me the words, "Repeat, repeat, repeat to attain perfection."  
I've been giving a series of winter swing clinics and each clinic is nearly identical with some variations depending on the audience.  I like using the same format over and over because something new can be learned and new habits can be developed only through repetition.  (it takes 21 days to create a new habit - Maxwell Maltz's theory in Psycho-Cybernetics). 
Anyone whose ever played organized team sports knows that the majority of time in practice is spent in conditioning and constant repetition of "plays" over and over until they become "second nature".  When I teach the golf swing, instead of trying to teach the entire swing to someone in one lesson, I work on parts and give a student drills that they can do at home spending five to ten minutes daily.  Within a few months, three new "habits" can be developed.
I remember playing basketball and working on our plays without a ball when we were in the learning process.  In the same spirit, I prefer that students would spend time working on the "new" motions of the swing without a ball to allow the new motion to become habit.  Ideally, when the student goes to hit balls, hitting balls into a net is the ideal situation so that they focus on the swing and the feeling of solid contact.
In today's winter clinic I just taught, I made a statement to one of the students, "I can teach you the swing, but you have to learn the feel."

My four simple rules to learning golf

When it comes to learning the game of golf, I have four simple rules.
Golf is a game and games should be fun:  Whether we are playing the game or practicing, we should enjoy what we do. We already have day jobs, bills to pay and our day to day task lists so we should make certain that we enjoy ourselves playing the game (key word is playing).  One of the most enjoyable aspects of golf is that we all are capable of hitting a great shot once in a while and enjoy the feeling when we overcome the challenge of the game and hit great shots a little bit more often.  Which is why I've taken on the task of learning as much technical information about the golf swing and how to explain the learning process to in a simple method for those of you who have lives and can't spend several hours daily to "work" on your game (remember, practice should be "play" and not "work", we already have jobs).
Everyone is capable of making a good golf swing:   "The mind cannot focus on a negative.” James Ray.  Short game guru Dave Pelz says the most feared shot in golf is the short putt.  I personally think that it is because our focus is directed to "I hope I don't miss".  Without positive expectations, there shouldn't be an expectation of positive results.  I became a better putter when I expected to make every putt and more importantly, could care less if I didn't (back to the fun & challenge).  The two worst things we can do if we want to get better is to say "I can't" or "I don't want to change".  Here is my simple philosophy:  if you can lift your arms above your head and turn your head to the right and left, you have plenty of physical ability to make a good golf swing.  All you need to do is believe it yourself.
If you want to improve, you must have a plan:    Simply believing that you can have a great swing is only the first step to improvement.  The most important step is to embrace the idea of change.  I like to have golfers work without hitting balls using simple drills they can do in five to ten minutes daily.  If they get to hit balls, it is a bonus.  There is a theory called psycho-cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz that states a new habit can be created by doing it 21 days in a row.   In addition, it helps to have guidance from someone who will help you set some basic goals and help you through them.  My goal when I take on a student is to give them an understanding of how the golf club works, spend time with them frequently for a short time span (once every week or two for three to six weeks) and then only when they want a review or desire to move up another level.
Golf is a game for a lifetime and crosses all cultural boundaries:  "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal" Earl Nightingale.  Success in golf and life does not come overnight.  However if we work in 21 day increments, we can realize these goals.  I had the pleasure of giving lessons to Robert "Shank" Hullings who played 100 rounds a year.  Shank was 75 years old at the time and still hit the ball 260 yards and still wanted to be better.  Between the 100 rounds a year and a great attitude, I would say he is in better shape mentally and physically than many of us half his age.  My father was eighty years old when he hit the ultimate golf shot:  a hole-in-one.  By the way, this was his first and only.  So for you youngsters, there is still plenty of time. 
One of my fondest memories of this game is spending the afternoon with someone half my age, another twice my age and a golfer born in another country.  And we all enjoyed a great afternoon together.  If fact, it's the only athletic endeavor I've played with a grandfather, father and son at the same time.
And through all of this, never forget:  Golf is fun.