Tip of the Month

March 2007

By John Pallot
Director of Instruction

About this time every year the top PGA Tour pros make it to Miami to play Doral's Blue Course AKA The Blue Monster. This year the tournament gained new luster as the CA World Golf Championship. The top 75 golfers, based on world ranking, were invited to play 72 holes. No pro-am. No cut.

If he was here for the tournament, might Shakespeare, World's #1 playwright have some advice for World's #1 golfer Tiger Woods. Shakespeare's absence allows us to speculate --what if he saw The Blue Monster? The new fast, firm greens, and thick Bermuda rough and all that water? Behold, he'd think, a fearsome test of golf, made even tougher by rain squalls and windy gusts of 20-30 MPH. Shakespeare whispers to Tiger, "Beware the Ides of March". Tiger accepts the sage advice, plays the final hole with caution, and wins by two. Tiger says to Shakespere, " I came, I saw, I conquered. "With or without Shakespere, Tiger has now won 13 World Golf Championships played on different courses worldwide. They're considered mini-majors.

I embarked with excitement upon my annual visit to Doral. A day with the best golfers in the world.I go to the practice round, photography's permitted. I shot some fantastic video. Good position is key to good shots so one has to maneuver, jostling for position between caddies, gallery folk, teachers, and players' families.Through experience I've learned to move fast and grab the prime location at the next tee. To produce useful, productive golf swing video you must shoot either down the body line or directly in front. Over the years I've amassed a library of top pros in their prime. I use these videos as teaching aids to speed the learning process.By splitting the screen between tour pro and student a detailed analysis and comparison of the swings is facilitated. Analyses includes body motion, hand and arm action, top of the backswing, impact and follow through. I like matching the student with his favorite player.

This month's tip revolves around the right arm at the top of the backswing. The position of the right arm makes it much easier to swing on the correct plane, square the club-face at impact and hit longer straighter golf shots. The following two suggested drills will help you conceptualize and understand what actions are required to produce an efficient swing.

1) Baseball Swing Drill. Hold the club in front of your body. Your arms are extended and the shaft is parallel to the ground. Now swing your arms around your body. This will feel very similar to a tee ball baseball swing. Your shoulders will turn 90 degrees, hips 45 degrees. Stop at the top of your backswing and check your right arm position. The arm should be perpendicular to the ground. Now swing through and your left arm will finish in the identical perpendicular position as your right arm on the backswing. Swinging on the horizontal is a great way to feel the right arm position. You'll feel a slightly flatter backswing than your normal swing, however most amateurs have an angled right arm or flying elbow. So flatter is better.

2) Look at the top of your backswing. Make your backswing and stop at the top. Now turn your head to the right and look over your shoulder. Check your right arm position. If your right arm is bent 90 degrees at the elbow you're ready to begin your downswing.Check this on a regular basis. It works for the PGA Tour pros. Why not for you?