tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15372020071187825892024-02-02T08:25:39.086+00:00Nearly Single FiguresA golf blog interested in hearing from fellow golfers the world over about the lengths they have been to and are prepared to go to in order to get better at this brilliant but frustrating game.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-34421725688517902152010-07-22T19:24:00.002+01:002010-07-22T19:29:37.002+01:00Pete Cowen Coaches 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the 2010 British Open<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.petecowen.com/sites/all/modules/drupal-contrib/brilliant_gallery/image.php?imgp=L3Zhci9zaXRlcy9kL2Rpenp5aGVpZ2h0cy5jb20vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvZmlsZXMvd3d3LnBldGVjb3dlbi5jb20vZ2FsbGVyaWVzL0xvdWlzX09vc3RodWl6ZW4vTG91aXMgT29zdGh1aXplbiBTb3V0aCBBZnJpY2EgT3BlbiBDaGFtcHMgMjAwNyBwcmFjdGljZSBncm91bmRfMS5qcGc=&imgw=67&imgh=100"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 67px; height: 100px;" src="http://www.petecowen.com/sites/all/modules/drupal-contrib/brilliant_gallery/image.php?imgp=L3Zhci9zaXRlcy9kL2Rpenp5aGVpZ2h0cy5jb20vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvZmlsZXMvd3d3LnBldGVjb3dlbi5jb20vZ2FsbGVyaWVzL0xvdWlzX09vc3RodWl6ZW4vTG91aXMgT29zdGh1aXplbiBTb3V0aCBBZnJpY2EgT3BlbiBDaGFtcHMgMjAwNyBwcmFjdGljZSBncm91bmRfMS5qcGc=&imgw=67&imgh=100" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I thought you might be interested in letting you all know a little known fact about this year's Open Championship.<br /><br />PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen coached the top 3 players!! Yes, he coaches Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson; making his performance as well as theirs all the more remarkable.<br /><br />You really should check out Europe's best golf instructor on his <a href="http://www.petecowen.com/">golf academies website</a> or get yourself his lovely golf DVDS which would also make an <a href="http://www.dizzyheights.com/pete-cowen-golf-dvd">ideal present for any serious golfer</a>.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-91846427166515289752009-11-24T09:02:00.003+00:002009-11-24T09:11:59.261+00:00Lee Westwood wins The Dubai World Championship and the Race to DubaiCongratulations to Europe's No1 Player Lee Westwood on winning the Dubai World Championship and the Race to Dubai. In doing so he finished as Europe's top golfer for the second time in his career and is now the 4th best player in the world!<br /><br />Earlier this season Lee Westwood returned to his long-time golf coach, Europe's top coach Pete Cowen. Unsurprisingly, this conicided with his return to sparkling form which culminated in a breathtaking display of power and control for 4 days in Dubai. He showed the kind of form and presence that usually only World No1 Tiger Woods shows. His final round 64 was awesome and even Tiger would have been blown away with the consistency shown by Lee on the final day - all fariways hit and GIRs!<br /><br />Consistency is one of the keys you hear from Lee's coach Pete Cowen all the time. Consistency in practice leads to consistency in results. If you haven't got your copy yet, then buy Pete's <a href="http://www.petecowen.com/dvdpreview.html">golf instruction DVD</a>, it's the perfect Christmas <a href="http://www.dizzyheights.com">present for any golfer this Christmas</a> - you can even hear what Pete really thinks of Lee's swing!NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-17430540110673614122009-06-16T09:43:00.003+01:002009-06-16T09:47:12.167+01:00Jeremy Dale's Short Game Scoring Schools<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Day I Learned to Score Better Without Changing My Golf Swing </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxeHWo2tJSnFJLSk_NNS5O9OW0c6g88mDU2jFJ_1dqQ2inrGtUacLDDGcNp6bwsjrGJAtHhhpVEo_UDx-67LhOYcFnEzqc12NrNqMkGjEJwzWZXH7rtQwo-EGUXOYDLYw3TQasoR96zE/s1600-h/Jeremy+Portrait+no+club+logo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxeHWo2tJSnFJLSk_NNS5O9OW0c6g88mDU2jFJ_1dqQ2inrGtUacLDDGcNp6bwsjrGJAtHhhpVEo_UDx-67LhOYcFnEzqc12NrNqMkGjEJwzWZXH7rtQwo-EGUXOYDLYw3TQasoR96zE/s320/Jeremy+Portrait+no+club+logo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347844148092014994" border="0" /></a>I've been on my fair share of 'golf instruction days' over the years and I have to say that this was different and better in so many ways than so many I have attended before. <br /><br />On Sunday, I attended a Jeremy Dale – Scoring School set in the beautiful surroundings of Stapleford Park Golf Club just outside Melton Mowbray. Before, I go into what I learned and how it will transform my golf; I first must explain what is different about this golf school and the approach of Jeremy Dale that I feel is at the root of his success.<br /><br />Jeremy Dale is one of the country’s most accomplished trick shot artists. He’s performed his golf trick shows in over 30 countries worldwide and once finished second in the World Trick Shot Championships. <br /><br />He is also an accomplished and ambidextrous scratch golfer. <br /><br />Yes, he plays golf better than most of us with left handed or right handed clubs!<br /><br />I believe it his ability to play the difficult shots (some would say impossible) with such ease that makes his Golf Scoring Schools so refreshingly different. He has a knack, even a gift, for making the difficult seem easy; and better still he communicates this so masterfully.<br /><br />In one day, he had helped me let go of all the technical swing thoughts and paralysing mechanics of the golf swing and had helped me focus on the one thing that really matters, the one thing that everyone cares about - saving shots. The day started with a friendly group chat with the four other golfers who have travelled from across the country to learn how to lower their scores.<br /><br />Within half-an-hour, with the help of a few flipcharts and the odd diagram, Jeremy had convinced us all that the area of our game that would make the biggest single difference to our scoring ability was the Finesse Game – chipping, pitching, bunker play; and the Mental Game – making good decisions and controlling one’s emotions and concentration.<br /><br />We then spent the rest of the day on the practice ground ‘re-learning’ each aspect of the game, but not from a technical perspective, from a shot making and shot saving point of view. Sure enough, Jeremy went round the group in turn giving us a few pointers about various aspects of our technique and showed us the key Dos and Don’ts for each type of shot. But his focus was primarily on changing the way we approached each shot, by giving us a method that would help us make better shot making decisions that would increase our margin of error and make the percentages work for us.<br />Every aspect of the day and his coaching was geared around giving you practical tools that you could use in your practice that would make you more effective out on the course. Whether, it was his practical tips for practising long putts, so you get a great feel for the strength required to play a 9 yard, 12 yard or 15 yard putt; or his practical short game tips for consistent wedge play using different clubs and a 9 O’clock, 10 O’clock and ‘L—Shaped Swing’; and then applying the same swings to your bunker play so you instinctively build a short, medium and long bunker shot into your shot making arsenal.<br /><br />As a leading golf trick shot artist, Jeremy Dale is ideally suited to translating what most people find a difficult and sometimes frustrating game into something that all of a sudden seems simple!<br /><br />As a consequence, his session on the mental game was peppered with practical suggestions about how you can use these skills on the golf course to make the right decisions and keep a cool head; and left me feeling confident that the skills I had learned on the day would stand the test of time.<br /><br />After a full day’s ordinary golf coaching you often leave with more questions than answers, more swing thoughts and technical modifications than you can possibly remember and perhaps a handful of tips that you think might really work for you. <br /><br />After a full day’s golf scoring school with Jeremy Dale, I left with a much clearer picture of how I can lower my scores and a golf bag brimming with an exciting new repertoire of golf shots (none of them trick shots). If you are interested in attending a Jeremy Dale Golf Scoring School then visit <a href="http://www.jeremydale.com/">www.jeremydale.com</a> or call Jeremy on 07748 307849. To see what my fellow golfers thought of the day please visit <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/golf_scoring_school">http://www.saveamillionshots.com/golf_scoring_school</a>.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-78796574143668247212009-03-26T10:28:00.002+00:002009-03-26T10:35:37.737+00:00Explanar Takes Some Explaining to My Wife<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJfEwNLd9VPs-iLvOLKhoK2DzN0YldgSvlPKsHDZWcnsrDQjpik0FPkObZ0LGS2ie7o6bbAIVTpyX_3ekAf5PLbBJaMfj4M8aBmfWqs_WRZ_J1zbuLuciltU7FbKiiR4z0G1Aplvwz4I/s1600-h/explanar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJfEwNLd9VPs-iLvOLKhoK2DzN0YldgSvlPKsHDZWcnsrDQjpik0FPkObZ0LGS2ie7o6bbAIVTpyX_3ekAf5PLbBJaMfj4M8aBmfWqs_WRZ_J1zbuLuciltU7FbKiiR4z0G1Aplvwz4I/s400/explanar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317443143927611474" border="0" /></a>In my quest to get to single figures I have brought home many, many weird and wonderful contraptions and peculiar paraphernalia for lost and desperate golfers.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />My wife has always been very supportive and hasn't seemed to mind me cluttering up the garage, the garden and now the house with these brightly coloured items....until now.<br /><br />Generally, golf swing improvement aids or golf putting training aids are small bits of kit that attach to a club and are reasonably portable. <a href="http://www.explanar.com/">Explanar</a> on the other hand comes in a huge 44kg box, and is a large steel hoop that stands 8 feet tall and 13 foot wide and dominates an entire room. It is big, shiny and solid and looks like it will last a lifetime.<br /><br />As my garage was full of other golf equipment, I decided to assemble my shiny new Explanar Home System in my living room early one Friday evening. Later that evening, long after my wife had given up trying to watch TV and gone to bed, I managed to finally get it fully assembled. For a piece of training kit that costs £615 (including delivery) I would have hoped the instructions could have been a bit better – colour photos would definitely have helped. But this is only a small gripe about what is probably one of the most useful training aids I have ever used.<br /><br />Explanar was designed by PGA Master Professional Luther Blacklock as a training aid that could help any golfer develop the correct golf swing action. It has been endorsed by leading coaches such as fellow PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen and Butch Harmon to name a few; so it must be good! Even Tour Players are using it and recently Explanar celebrated their ‘first Tour win’, when YE Yang won his first PGA Tour title at PGA National when he secured the Honda Classic.<br /><br />It consists of a weighted power roller that you swing around a large adjustable steel hoop that stands on a solid base. Assuming a golfer has the basics of a good grip and posture then all they need to do is adjust the hoop to their height and then swing the weighted power roller back and forth around the edge of the hoop on their optimum swing plane.<br /><br />It really is that simple; but it does come with a useful golf swing DVD by Luther Blacklock if you really want to fill you head with even more golf technique!<br /><br />The one part of the DVD I did scoff at was the safety demonstration; that was until a friend of mine nearly took my chin off swinging the heavy power roller whilst I was still adjusting the height of the hoop! You have been warned!<br /><br />The real safety question I wanted to answer was whether it was safe to use Explanar to change my golf swing; and the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.<br /><br />I have been trying to rectify some problems in my golf swing for many months. I have what my more polite friends call an ‘unorthodox swing’. I have a tendency to take the club away with my arms outside the line and disconnected from my body in the backswing, and then re-route it across my body to a reasonable, if a little steep, position at the top, before dropping it inside the swing plane on the downswing (a la Jim Furyk).<br /><br />I have been working for several months on many drills to help me take the club on the correct inside path and back up and down on the correct swing plane with moderate success. But finally after only a few hours on Explanar I have started to develop an instinctive feel for the correct positions and I am much closer to a better hand line and my correct swing plane than I have ever come close to before.<br /><br />Blacklock says Explanar creates ‘swing feelings’ and this is exactly what it has done for me.<br /><br />It is not a substitute for lessons, I still go to see London’s leading golf instructor Dave Wilkinson at the Knightsbridge Golf School. He tells me Hugh Grant has an Explanar on his roof – but he too still drops in for lessons.<br /><br />And the jobs of other PGA Pros are safe; after all it can’t teach you course management, straighten out your putting and improve your bunker play. In fact hundreds of teaching professionals have bought the Explanar Professional System at £1,999 to help them accelerate the improvement of their students.<br /><br />The Explanar can help groove new swing positions that you have been trying to reach, it can allow you to practice your golf without leaving the house and braving the elements and it can help you exercise the correct ‘golf muscles’.<br /><br />I am not sure why, but my wife thought it was essential that I mention that Explanar is offering a ‘Golf Training Aid Amnesty”. If your garage is like mine and full of old swing training aids that are past their sell by date, then return them to Explanar and they will refund the original cost up to £130 against your purchase of an Explanar system.<br /><br />I like my Explanar and I have a feeling that it will be in my backroom for many months (my wife isn’t exactly thrilled but she’ll be delighted for me when I finally get to single figures).<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.explanar.com/">Explanar Home Edition</a> at £615 is probably the most expensive golf training aid you are likely to buy.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">But what price do you put on a lifetime of better golf?</span><br /><br />(Has anyone else bought one or used one? Let me know your thoughts?)<br /></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-15863682208437591902009-01-27T19:48:00.003+00:002018-01-26T15:47:09.206+00:00My Golf Goals for 2009
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Following up on my last post, I have been working on my golf with Frances Goodman a <a href="http://www.bestgolfyet.com/">performance coach</a> who specialises in working with leading sportsmen and sportswomen, athletes and business people (sadly I fall into the last category - and I'm not sure about the 'leading' either). She does a lot of work with golfers and has worked with 2005 US PGA major winner Michael Campbell as well as a host of other top golfers and coaches.<br />
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I am now working on my golf with her as well as helping her build a new website called "<a href="http://www.bestgolfyet.com/">Best Golf Yet</a>". On the site she is developing some fantastic tools and resources to help everyone achieve their goals in golf. Believe me I have looked at hundreds of online coaching and mental game and coaching for performance websites and there really is nothing quite like it.<br />
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She envisages launching the service in the summer. There will be a quite reasonable subscription price to play for access to all these great tools but if you register your interest early then she'll give you a special offer when it launches. Why not join this exciting <a href="http://www.bestgolfyet.com/user/register">golf programme</a> now?
NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-17788743474809560362008-12-02T17:36:00.003+00:002008-12-02T17:49:57.377+00:00Achieving Your Goals in GolfFor ages I have strived to play to single figures and for the first time in 2008 (and for only the 4th time ever) I managed it last weekend. Playing the golf course for the first time and dropping my SkyCaddie (a brilliant shot saving aid) in the car park did not deter me from at last succeeding in what I have been working towards all year. Now I know one swallow doesn’t make a summer; but it’s a good start to a year long programme in which I hope to play my best golf yet.<br /><br />I put my recent improvement in form down to a couple of things:<br /><br />1. Last month I started working 1-2-1 with a <a href="http://www.imaginesuccess.co.uk/">performance coach for golf</a>. She has worked with Michael Campbell as well as other top golfers and athletes, so she really knows her stuff! Just talking through with a coach what my goals were, why they were important and making a plan made me much more confident of my ability to easily achieve my goals. We have since gone through a number of questions and answer sessions, a few exercises and visualisation techniques and my confidence, and attitude to achieving my aims has changed beyond all recognition. I am well on my way to becoming a better golfer – now it’s just a question of how low can I go! I certainly feel I have every chance of playing to single figures each time I play. If you are serious about improving your golf (especially if you want to turn professional) then I recommend you call Frances Goodman at Imagine Success.<br /><br />2. I have continued my regular lessons at <a href="http://www.knightsbridgegolfschool.com/">Knightsbridge Golf School</a> with Dave Wilkinson – he has transformed my swing and ball striking and although it’s still work in progress (and there’s lots more to do), I am more consistent than ever – and my bad shots are not nearly as destructive as they used to be. If you are in London, near Harrods, then drop in for half and hour, you will be pleased you did!NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-56093234715333639892008-11-28T09:18:00.007+00:002008-11-28T10:56:06.677+00:00Credit Crunch Beating Christmas Golf Gifts<div><div><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Credit Crunch beating Christmas Gifts</span></strong> - Just thought all you keen golfers out there would want to take advantage of some special christmas offers on great golf presents for him or her!</div><br /><div></div><div>Dizzy Heights are offering a <strong>special christmas discount</strong> on the cost of their excellent Pete Cowen DVDs. Pete Cowen is Europe's No1 Coach and he continues to coach some of the best players in Europe. I have used both of his DVDs extensively and they have made a significant contribution to my recent improvement and have got me ever closer to playing single figures golf.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.dizzyheights.com/golf_online_store.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273658127421877522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px" alt="Golf DVDs and Gifts" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-LZsyJYSkzDX7g5hMx3n311ATGt_7c2-ZrnvZgyGthz1uaSDyOnUkCEQz1gBkH3TmZi31_AWRax3r-VsxUwiEGIrh1ybPlMYt7KHaF9OpuMf_cHgpjTOjgQaP1_PbQjEZnBbDnMlGJs/s320/Pete+Cowen+Cases+flat+low+res.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Pyramid of Learning is a golf swing lesson that takes you through the whole golf swing in Pete's straightforward down-to-earth style. He uses great analogies to make it easy for you to relate to the technical principles without you getting lost in technical swing speak! It covers the basics, balance, body action (his Spiral Staircase drill is innovative and so useful in developing the correct body action) and how to create a powerful and dynamic golf swing. It also has interviews with some of his top players and his views on their golf swings.</div><br /><div></div><div>The normal cost is £14.99 + p&p - but if you enter "<strong>CREDITCRUNCH1</strong>" when you checkout you will get a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">20%</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> discount off the nett price <span style="color:#000000;">and</span> 3 FREE POCKETSHOTS GOLF LESSONS worth £12.</span></div><div></div><br /><div>The Ripple Effect is Pete's bunker lesson. Lee Westwood describes Pete Cowen as the best bunker coach in the world - watch the DVD and you will see why. I played golf with a top European Tour coach the other day and got up and down out of green-side bunkers twice (100% sand saves) thanks to this technique! It has eradicated my irrational fear of bunkers - and now when I am in a bunker I'm not thinking, "How do I get this out?", but "How close will it finish!". This DVD will dramatcially improve your bunker technique!! It is simple to learn and it corrects the common bunker technique taught by coaches all over the world (but not used by the very top players) which sees you open the club face, with an open stance and swing across the ball - the result typically being a left to right ball flight - it is difficult to control the trajectory and the reaction of the ball on landing. With Pete Cowen's Ripple Effect technique you will learn to build control of the ball from sand and to get the ball releasing like a putt towards the hole. The DVD costs £12.99 + p&p - but if you enter promotional discount code "<span style="color:#ff0000;">CREDITCRUNCH1</span>" then you will get a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">20%</span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> discount off the nett price <span style="color:#000000;">and</span> 3 FREE POCKETSHOTS GOLF LESSONS worth £12.</span></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://www.dizzyheights.com/golf_online_store.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273659093133854034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px" alt="golf gifts for him and her" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jN3SfAWq9GpHsMOYmvEhyphenhyphenvPfEhTzMmTSxvLik54VGc4pjr3EgFTXqqwGvdAEdam0yTofdulYhyfspk-3xz-dQG9-dT3ztcfCj32Z1-Fz7IBWI3pw9JpUPBTGHonNTXiP3sJ-qNuS-EM/s320/christmas_golf_gift.jpg" border="0" /></a>The last special offer is on this gift pack of 6 lessons from 6 top coaches. It covers all aspects of the game and really is an ideal gift for someone taking up the game for the first time or looking to improve all aspects of their game. If you buy a golf gift pack before Christmas then Dizzy Heights are offering you a credit crunch boosting bonus of 3 extra Pocketshots lessons which will make really useful stocking fillers for Xmas - just enter "<span style="color:#ff0000;">FreePS</span>" in the voucher code section when you checkout and you will get all <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">9 golf lessons in the range for the price of 6</span></strong>.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>I hope these tips help you save a few shots and a few pounds this Christmas.</div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Happy Golfing and Happy Christmas!</span> </div></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-69981016016858819792008-09-23T14:23:00.005+01:002008-10-01T12:59:22.080+01:00Add A Computer to Your Golf Glove and Save Shots!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOu2weDXmodw1jaLUBMXV2ZsvKN82ssLwMWMn6uO18pBrJ2ujnh0sxxKunxjzCRPzDx9eYXiQa-pLpcHpWKFdXPeeKrOwRCB5CDKYdeaE1kBenO2cAAX24Zl5QY2_PlU5smgL-78enoE/s1600-h/SensoGloveHQ_resize.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249206995415781010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="Senso glove golf swing training aid golf swing grip tips" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOu2weDXmodw1jaLUBMXV2ZsvKN82ssLwMWMn6uO18pBrJ2ujnh0sxxKunxjzCRPzDx9eYXiQa-pLpcHpWKFdXPeeKrOwRCB5CDKYdeaE1kBenO2cAAX24Zl5QY2_PlU5smgL-78enoE/s320/SensoGloveHQ_resize.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />When I first picked this up I thought this might be an expensive gimmick. But boy was I wrong! This has proved to be one of the most useful training aids I have tried and for £49.95 + p&p it’s good value too.<br /><br />SensoGlove is simply a normal cabretta leather glove with a built-in computer that continuously reads your grip pressure. You can use it with any club and receive audio and visual feedback about the exact grip pressure on the club at address and during your swing.<br /><br />Working on the “tight muscles are slow muscles” theory, I have been using this in my pre-round warm-ups and I have been hitting the ball further than ever before. By pinpointing areas of tension in my fingers at address and during my swing, I have managed to improve my rhythm and tempo resulting in more consistent ball striking. It’s even proved useful for chipping, pitching and putting.<br /><br />What I like about this most is that it’s one of only a few golf training aids that you can use on the practice range and during a practice round. Replacement gloves are available for £11.20 + p&p from <a href="http://www.sensoglove.com/">http://www.sensoglove.com/</a> .</div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-43136605124298552952008-09-23T14:18:00.005+01:002008-09-23T14:23:15.681+01:00Trueplane – Putting Training Aid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhTwa6vXhDn1Z4WGjS33wBFt_z97SOIYp-n1UtJEESZxqpjOsCcCv7F5pgAa5kDRFa1bHnviqu7lFJiLvSS5qTkVazMOlO2QtKY5PCaXNEk94pDVBIfWlCYJVYiCffkpa7qSgRvxacco/s1600-h/Trueplane+front_resize.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249206252287894242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="trueplane putting training aid improved my putting" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhTwa6vXhDn1Z4WGjS33wBFt_z97SOIYp-n1UtJEESZxqpjOsCcCv7F5pgAa5kDRFa1bHnviqu7lFJiLvSS5qTkVazMOlO2QtKY5PCaXNEk94pDVBIfWlCYJVYiCffkpa7qSgRvxacco/s320/Trueplane+front_resize.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I am getting used to hearing “nice putt” much more often during my rounds these days due to a few minutes regular practice with one of the simplest game improvement products around.<br /><br />TruePlane could not be easier to use, simply slide the putter along the guide following the black line for the ideal inside-to-inside stroke. There is also a handy guide rod which attaches to your putter to aid correct putter alignment during the stroke.<br />It’s light and portable so it can be used indoors or outside and it is definitely something I will be using over the coming winter months, in combination with my 2Thumb grip and Scotty Cameron putter, to improve my putting at home. Trueplane can be ordered via <a href="http://www.trueplane.com/">http://www.trueplane.com/</a> for just £39.99 plus £5.99 P&P.</div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-31188713879468683582008-09-22T09:09:00.003+01:002008-09-22T09:24:01.636+01:00How the Ryder Cup Was WonWell the Ryder Cup is over for another 2 years and I'm already counting the days to Celtic Manor in 2010. I cannot believe the drama and the excitement - it was even better than the K Club....apart from the result obviously!<br /><br />Well here's what I've taken out from my weekend in front of the TV watching the best players in the world (bar Tiger Woods) play unbelievable golf. Hopefully, learning some of these lessons will help me get to single figures, lower my scores and my handicap.<br /><br />Lesson 1 - When Captaining a side that is behind going into the last day singles put your form players out first. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Faldo</span> should have led the side with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Karlsson</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Poulter</span> and McDowell who were all playing brilliant golf and who were all clearly in the right frame of mind to succeed.<br /><br />Lesson 2 - Don't let your opponent get 'in your head' in matchplay - Anthony Kim clearly got to Sergio Garcia and it affected his game. The game was won well before the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> when Sergio missed that short birdie putt to get a hole back.<br /><br />Lesson 3 - Work on your wedge play - the quality of the approach shots was outstanding all week. These players clearly can make the ball dance with a short iron in their hands. This ability to make birdies or to recover from a poor shot to make par is the key to keeping your round on track. I am going to devote a much greater proportion of my practice time to 8 iron to lob wedge from now on.<br /><br />Lesson 4 - You've got to putt well. Casey didn't make nearly as many putts as McDowell, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Karlsson</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Poulter</span> and Harrington (who seemed to hole everything from within 20 feet in the last 4 balls match). Work on your putting. And when you think you're getting good, do some more work on it.<br /><br />Overall, it was an enthralling weekend of sporting achievement - disappointing for the Europeans and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">momentous</span> for the Americans - but at the same time a glowing tribute to the fascination of matchplay golf; and hopefully millions of youngsters watching this weekend will have been inspired to take up the game as a result of the spectacle they saw this weekend.<br /><br />Fingers crossed for 2010; if I can just work on lessons 2, 3 and 4 who knows I might even make the team.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-10446158037175355322008-09-20T09:12:00.006+01:002008-09-20T09:23:01.462+01:00Golf Practice - Dr Karl Morris Golf Tips Have Helped MeI've been trying something really simple for my last couple of rounds and it seems to be working as my scores are slowly falling (I shot 10 over last week, which is my season's best). Following the advice of <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/users/dr-karl-morris-sports-psychologist">Dr Karl Morris</a> one of Europe's leading sports psychologists I've been trying this simple 3 tasks approach.<br /><br />Basically from the first tee to the last green for every shot just focus on the same 3 things only. In my case it has been;<br /><br />1. Visualise the shot all the way, including its trajectory and reaction on landing.<br /><br />2. Take 1 practice swing only standing behind the ball (only once I have a clear picture of the shot from point 1).<br /><br />3. Make and slowly release a full deep breath before each shot and then approach the ball.<br /><br />It's been working for me. You can see some of Dr.Karl Morris' <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/videos/introduction-effective-practice">golf video lessons </a>on <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/">http://www.saveamillionshots.com/</a> or on <a href="http://www.golf-brain.com/">http://www.golf-brain.com/</a>.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-23463273441691054352008-08-15T13:40:00.001+01:002008-09-01T13:08:54.075+01:00Why SkyCaddie Will Help Your Course Management and Save You Shots<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qhIRSJawV5DVDND-F5eoQ9hr4euy5CovrmNPxFhILASz60V0j-2Wp-YduWnrw_swOfPrTSjikQcsJXojVKR0WhL9hNH7UpIg9ZRHuweoXC-ncitYSRKL6nf4wgWiFcTh7cQcZ68Au4/s1600-h/Sky_Caddie_sg5_photo_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234723595224331378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qhIRSJawV5DVDND-F5eoQ9hr4euy5CovrmNPxFhILASz60V0j-2Wp-YduWnrw_swOfPrTSjikQcsJXojVKR0WhL9hNH7UpIg9ZRHuweoXC-ncitYSRKL6nf4wgWiFcTh7cQcZ68Au4/s400/Sky_Caddie_sg5_photo_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div>It’s like SatNav for the golf course, but it’s much easier to use than the one in my car, and it doesn’t have that monotone voiced woman telling me I’ve ‘driven’ in the wrong direction. I love this gadget; it is proving itself to be a really useful course management aid. By giving you targets to aim for and to avoid, it helps you make better decisions off the tee. Using the Driver less often, I have been finding more fairways and greens in regulation, which has got to be a good route to saving shots.<br /><br />At £299.95 it’s not cheap. After all you could have your choice of drivers for this kind of money. But I would lay a £10 bet that you would save more shots on your next round with SkyCaddie in your hand, than a new driver in your bag! <a href="http://www.skygolfgps.com/">http://www.skygolfgps.com/</a>.<br /><br />The only potential drawback is that your playing partners will start asking you for distances from around the 2nd hole until the end of the round – Tell them to get their own!</div></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-23954581975314991772008-08-15T13:38:00.002+01:002008-08-15T13:44:29.223+01:00Products I have Been Trying This Month<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwPFrOa50O6S7WKvaZJWovMG6s4jHtHD-OjgWnXiHT5O8DDDzYeLlItmbxljYJGzjcL7rU_rHN0yNI0NcbCrpLRXydCbFIUbwIxX3HX7HKMm0pZemurULtlFG0VdZxW_TlLgr3pSVRyY/s1600-h/_BW_8062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234723297611901458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwPFrOa50O6S7WKvaZJWovMG6s4jHtHD-OjgWnXiHT5O8DDDzYeLlItmbxljYJGzjcL7rU_rHN0yNI0NcbCrpLRXydCbFIUbwIxX3HX7HKMm0pZemurULtlFG0VdZxW_TlLgr3pSVRyY/s400/_BW_8062.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Always looking to save shots I recently fitted a 2Thumb putter grip to my putter. 10 minutes to fit it, 15 minutes practice with it and off I went onto the golf course. 3 rounds later my putting stats have improved by just over 1 stroke a round and I feel as if I cannot miss from 8 foot. If I could save a stroke for every £17.99 I spent on golf equipment it would cost me just £233.87 to get to scratch!<br /><br />There are at least 7 different ways to grip it and it certainly feels different when you first pick it up. It stops you breaking your wrists and reduces putter face rotation and I’ve found it has helped me achieve a better roll on the ball.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.2thumbgrip.com/">http://www.2thumbgrip.com/</a> – 3 different styles, 7 different colours, prices from £14.99 to £17.99 per grip. As a bonus it will soon be shipping with a putting lesson DVD from PGA Master Professional Denis Pugh. </div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-39769386382010117592008-08-12T09:54:00.002+01:002008-08-12T10:01:30.045+01:00Golf Blog From Sandy Jamieson (Robert Allenby's Coach)I came across this <a href="http://www.sandyjamieson.blogspot.com/">golf blog</a> recently from Sandy Jamieson, one of the world's leading golf coaches and currently coach to Australian star Robert Allenby. On his blog he periodically talks about his trips around the world (not always in private jets) and the odd golf tip or too. The one tip I found particularly useful was the one about using an alignment aid when practising. It's so simple and it helps you form and keep good habits and you will see the benefits on the golf course. He's also uploaded a video of Robert Allenby's swing on his profile page on this new <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/users/sandy-jamieson-0">golf instruction website</a>.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-20741617013914975782008-06-27T14:06:00.003+01:002008-08-12T09:54:25.579+01:00New Golf Video Website Launched<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQDhx2XucIb7_Pkvkig6gA9khbBQuKmJ9NjEP8BR7ji57Z8JjBwNMiQYjK1Ex469drsFyW2-_WmobDQOzEJXl8JX3M3kcw-xSFC2xJtC7_MXAoBeVYI4eQrjgGPmMutwwSDhOd95EaKo/s1600-h/AllCoaches+300+x+200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233551866827087298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQDhx2XucIb7_Pkvkig6gA9khbBQuKmJ9NjEP8BR7ji57Z8JjBwNMiQYjK1Ex469drsFyW2-_WmobDQOzEJXl8JX3M3kcw-xSFC2xJtC7_MXAoBeVYI4eQrjgGPmMutwwSDhOd95EaKo/s400/AllCoaches+300+x+200.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Hi, if you've dropped by and looked around then you will probably know that I am focusing on trying anything and everything to improve my golf. In fact over the past few weeks and months I have been busy working with a team of classy golfers and world famous coaches to create a new website aimed at improving standards and lowering handicaps worldwide. It's currently in beta testing and we'd love your feedback so why not take a look. It features:<br /><br />Hundreds of <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.tv/videos">free golf video tips</a> from <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.tv/coaches">famous golf coaches</a><br />The ability to upload your own swing and ask questions of experts in golf forums<br />A <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.tv/golf_clubs">UK golf club directory</a> with great course descriptions, reviews, maps, photos and videos<br />A <a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.tv/golf_days">Golf Day Wizard</a> making it easy to organise your golf day<br /><br />Give it a try and let me know your comments!NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-23342386735133845302008-05-26T14:55:00.009+01:002008-12-15T12:41:27.022+00:002Thumb Putter GripThe 2 Thumb Putter Grip - A video by Denis Pugh. I've just started using this <a href="http://www.2thumbgrip.com/">2Thumb putting grip</a> and so far I have been very impressed. Only 30 putts at the weekend is definitely a step in the right direction.<br /><br />The 2 Thumb Grip has been specially designed to help you putt better. In this video you will see some of the reasons why it's being used by top tour professionals and thousands of amateurs worldwide.<br /><br />The 2 Thumb Grip - Simple, Natural, Logical<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F9713%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F9713%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="298" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-46798259785825300212008-05-22T18:13:00.011+01:002008-12-15T12:45:57.597+00:00New Prototype Golf Swing Training Aid Testing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRROzgiw57LZwWcLzLQfaASv58UbKK02yn3yf4kvqhNXHD1sqtekXEChBIrDpFzirP1VmWwHJngOPT-Le1_AhI9wR4-oCRcAHMqxZisDjAikwRnEZRCypDC2FneJO24JvbbeAE3L4bBO0/s1600-h/TourImpact.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203253357415538882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRROzgiw57LZwWcLzLQfaASv58UbKK02yn3yf4kvqhNXHD1sqtekXEChBIrDpFzirP1VmWwHJngOPT-Le1_AhI9wR4-oCRcAHMqxZisDjAikwRnEZRCypDC2FneJO24JvbbeAE3L4bBO0/s400/TourImpact.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Every now and then you read about a remarkable individual who has miraculously gone from 28 handicap to scratch in a matter of months. Much as I’d love to think that could happen to me, or better, that I could actually invest the emotional and physical effort to make it happen. It’s as unrealistic for me as it is for the majority of amateur golfers who have; a) a job; b) a family; c) a life. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p><br /></o:p><br />For me, <b>just a minor miracle will do</b>. If I can improve from a playing handicap of 24 to single figures in less than 2 years then I will be happy. If along my journey I can share some of my experiences with other golfers who want to embark on a similar journey, then so much the better. I will leave no stone unturned, no gizmo untried, no DVD unwatched in my quest over the coming months.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Since the PGA Show I have waded through my shiny new pile of ‘paraphenalia for lost and desperate souls’ and carefully selected a range of products for experimentation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">First up, was the peculiarly named “Tour Impact”, or TI for short. It is a strange name to give to a training aid that is so full of delicate electronics that you cannot actually hit a ball with it!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The idea behind the TI, is that it is a practice club that helps you swing with the rhythm, tempo and timing of a tour pro. A bold claim - and one the manufacturer claims is achievable by blending recorded swings of 10 top tour professionals (they don’t tell you who they are) into a realistic feeling golf club. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The idea is simple enough, you select the speed that you feel is the most desirable for you; then you swing the club in time to the different sounds that the club emits. From a nice address position, as soon as you start your backswing you hear a loud audible tone; this tone then changes in pitch during the downswing, with a distinctive ‘swoosh’ sound through impact. The idea is simple enough; make enough practice swings keeping time with the sounds you are hearing and you will ingrain a consistent rhythm into your swing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p></o:p><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F9714%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F9714%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div><br /><br />In theory, and to be fair with some practice, you should start to be able to mimic the timing and rhythm of your chosen tour professional. I have used this throughout every practice session for over a month, and although I cannot quite get over the fact that I cannot hit the ball with it, I have found it to be really quite useful and entertaining.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">There are 10 speed settings (0 – slowest to 9 – ridiculously fast) and after 10 minutes of great fun trying to swing so fast I nearly pulled a muscle I finally settled for using it at 0, its slowest setting. With the setting at 9, I could barely finish the backswing before hearing the ‘swoosh’ of impact – I am not sure it’s physically possible to swing that fast! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">After a few weeks I noticed that I was striking the ball more consistently out of the sweetspot and hitting fewer poor shots. How much of this was down to the TI is difficult to say. Certainly it deserves some credit if only for nuturing my interest in what working on my tempo could do for my game. In all my years of playing golf (20+) I had never ‘worked on my tempo’ and I was genuinely excited and enthusiastic about doing so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">After a few sessions I started to look for other instruction articles and videos about tempo and surprisingly found it hard to come by. Eventually, I found an excellent piece on the importance of tempo in one of my favourite golf books, “The Swing Factory” by Steve Gould and D J Wilkinson of the famous <a href="http://www.knightsbridgegolfschool.com/"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:placename st="on">Knightsbridge</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Golf</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:placetype> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city></a>. They describe tempo as, <b><i>“t</i></b><b><i>he ultimate refinement that concentrates power at exactly the right place every time you swing”.</i><br /></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbdk2m7HX6u4DU8BuOas5fe_JpsEFyfip3eK4qbHlUiuOdtTTpeAgKK0SUlY0iTXZav-Ce2zH1gryypuH9gAU_LJ-2-t2flYO4huQ3J8RVG47jGoBYXO1slZLUHls7-BxOdjYQNh8PLI/s1600-h/swingfactorycover.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203254285128474834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbdk2m7HX6u4DU8BuOas5fe_JpsEFyfip3eK4qbHlUiuOdtTTpeAgKK0SUlY0iTXZav-Ce2zH1gryypuH9gAU_LJ-2-t2flYO4huQ3J8RVG47jGoBYXO1slZLUHls7-BxOdjYQNh8PLI/s400/swingfactorycover.gif" border="0" /></a><br />They go on to say, <b><i>“most golfers swing much too fast to retain contr</i></b><b><i>o</i></b><b><i>l over the delivery, so their point of release and shape of thei</i></b><b><i>r swings are subject to constant variation. You cannot standardise the shape of your swing and point of delivery until you have a constant tempo”.</i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">This advice has proved to be invaluable. The TI has served as a useful aide-memoire to stop swinging like a lunatic and to start swinging within myself. I’d often heard TV commentators talking about top pros swinging at 80%; now I know what they mean, and even better I can do the same myself. This has started to produce better scores in the low 80’s already this year, and I have even played to single figures once!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I have certainly benefited from considering, and experimenting with, my tempo more often in practice and giving it some thought during play. For too many years I have been a victim of hitting rather than swinging. I have been concentrating so much on getting the backswing right, by the time I got to the top I was always in so much of a hurry to hit the ball, I would not swing back down and round through impact, but make an aggressive hurried swipe at the ball. Hitting from the top usually ended in disaster; I would lose my height and spine angle, lurch with my upper body and head, and generally make a pig’s ear out of a promising backswing. I have suddenly realised how important it is to give myself enough time to make a coordinated movement of my body through the ball and the results speak for themselves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">I’m still itching to give the ball a good whack with the TI, or should I say a rhythmic and smooth strike, with the TI. That’s perhaps the major drawback with an otherwise likeable and useful product. If it wasn’t a prototype they’d like back in one piece, I might have succumbed to that desire and given it one almighty swing just to see what happens. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">The TI is not available in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place> yet, but if you can find out more about it at <a href="http://www.tourimpactgolf.com/">Tour Impact's website</a>. Over the coming weeks and months you will also be able to see a few of the other game improvement aids I have been testing. If they work I’ll be letting you know here soon.<o:p></o:p></p>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-18637038114836139022008-05-21T12:03:00.004+01:002008-12-15T12:47:07.095+00:00Hampton Court Palace Golf ClubJust thought I'd share with you all the beautiful course where I play. It's called Hampton Court Palace Golf Club and it's just outside London near Kingston-upon-Thames.<br /><br />It's well worth a visit for a golf society day:<br /><br />Great course - challenging 6,513 yard parkland/inland links golf course<br />Good practice facilities - driving range and short game area<br />Great Facilities - conferences, weddings and fantastic food<br />Nice friendly team and members!<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F8192%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F8192%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="298" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-6784324123351450132008-05-13T23:30:00.007+01:002008-12-15T12:47:43.175+00:00GPS Golf RangeFinders Can Save You ShotsRecently I met Jackie Hitchcock, Managing Director of Sky Caddie at the glorious <a href="http://www.theoxfordshiregolfclub.com/">Oxfordshire Golf Club</a>. I interviewed her about her range of golf GPS rangefinders. Here's a little clip of that interview. It took less than 10 minutes for Jackie to convince me of the merits of using a SkyCaddie; and only 2 minutes to convince the cameraman to get one too!<br /><br />I've got my eyes on the SkyCaddie SG5 - with its large colour screen it's easy to read and straightforward to operate. You can download your course from the <a href="http://www.skygolfgps.co.uk">SkyCaddie website </a>- they have over 17,000 professionally mapped courses worldwide and if yours is not listed they can survey it for you (with the club's permission). Yes, unlike every other GPS device supplier, SkyCaddie actually sends out surveyors to map each and every course! Thinking as a caddy would do for his or her player, they plot all the distances to the hazards and target areas so you can manage your way around the course effectively. It really works and because it uses commercial grade GPS engines (if you are considering a cheaper GPS then ask them about the quality of their engine) it is very, very accurate! Certainly more accurate than the 100 and 150 yard markers on your average golf course!<br /><br />I would love to hear feedback if you are using a GPS unit and it is saving you shots?<br /><br />I can see 3 easy ways SkyCaddie is is going to save everyone shots; 1) by avoiding errors in shot strategy off the tee or for your approach; 2) perfect club selection to get the exact distance to the pin and the front and back of the green (check out Sky Caddie's Intelligreen feature at the end of the video); 3) knowing how far you actually hit the ball (SkyCaddie can tell you!) - Yes let's face it we all overestimate how far we actually hit the ball on average.<br /><br />Check out the video and let me know what you think. I think this is definitely going to help me in my quest to get to single figures!<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F7889%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F7889%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-30920539992774495032008-02-18T18:01:00.007+00:002008-02-18T18:17:55.032+00:00The Latest Gadgets for Lost and Desperate Golfing SoulsI will go to almost any lengths to improve my game…<br /><br />There’s an old saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. I don’t subscribe to that view. Even after I played the best round of my life (which happened last year) I started tinkering with my swing because I knew it could have been even better. In many ways my pursuit of excellence is similar to Tiger Woods; leave no stone unturned, plan meticulously, seek the best advice, get the best team around you (my wife is very supportive), but unfortunately that’s where the similarities with Tiger Woods end.<br /><br />My game is broken. Sometimes I can mend it and play half decent golf for a while, but more often than not it’s in a state of disrepair. I often describe my game as being between swings, it’s a bit like ‘being between jobs’, a euphemism for being unemployed or in the case of my swing, out of working order.<br /><br />Even when things are going well, I cannot curtail the irresistible urge to give the next new swing aid a try in the hope they might go even better. So strong is this urge that I recently got on a plane to visit the world’s biggest golf show, The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, in the hope of finding the next miracle cure for my golfing ills.<br /><br />I was not disappointed. The show was awash with gadgets and gizmos, and even boasted a 10 minute, 100 U$ dollar teeth whitening while-u-wait booth. Apparently you’ll play much better with a ‘winning smile!’<br /><br />Some of the best golf coaches in the United States were in attendance; David Leadbetter, Butch Harmon, Dr.Gary Wiren, Rick Smith, Jim McClean, Roger Fredericks and Dr. Joseph Parent to name a few. What I love about these fellas, is that you only have to ask them a question or make a practice swing and they will stop signing autographs and start instructing. They are as addicted to teaching as I am to learning this great game.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa_I3k4182AOECgUwJuFRCJZps69QXRp2GvcRCfgwWZcUeWDqh-b6L9xaHyziAGeWuUYPc6MUXjRUf9JZh8VQQH-9Vw9zIx8XsOLkm3nVlpudz7TlfXpC0K3Oommc2_ipLQd81JkCTMk/s1600-h/gyroscope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168383707770991666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa_I3k4182AOECgUwJuFRCJZps69QXRp2GvcRCfgwWZcUeWDqh-b6L9xaHyziAGeWuUYPc6MUXjRUf9JZh8VQQH-9Vw9zIx8XsOLkm3nVlpudz7TlfXpC0K3Oommc2_ipLQd81JkCTMk/s320/gyroscope.jpg" border="0" /></a> Rick Smith (until recently Phil Mickleson’s coach) was demonstrating a particularly novel training aid called the GyroSwing™ which has a gyroscope in the club head. As the club head moves, the gyroscope always tries to return it to ‘square’, forcing you to swing on plane. They are not out in the UK yet, but I’ll be getting my hands on one as soon as I can to see if it will save me shots. If it does you’ll be hearing about it here soon.<br /><br /><br />Another device that promised to save shots was the Eez-Read. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IEmWkAKdRy0cnBXve3BN_I451c6ai719PN7KtNHPRCcqQhA8G8ESCkw0-3Ny5ZU2wFMWbPkwpLo3mXyfvnOgR28UF5HoBx-Da0-AeOntAt2zUzTOP_iaF93ePMjT3xQ3Bw1by3gR0Ks/s1600-h/eez+read.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168384029893538882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IEmWkAKdRy0cnBXve3BN_I451c6ai719PN7KtNHPRCcqQhA8G8ESCkw0-3Ny5ZU2wFMWbPkwpLo3mXyfvnOgR28UF5HoBx-Da0-AeOntAt2zUzTOP_iaF93ePMjT3xQ3Bw1by3gR0Ks/s320/eez+read.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is designed to help you read the perfect line for your putt every time. Instructions advise you to take 2 readings, one halfway to the hole and the other at the hole. Great, but there’s no graph paper and pen, and it doesn’t take into account the other variables you might want to consider. How long is the grass? Are you putting with or against the grain? Can you remember how to read a spirit level? What time does it get dark? How likely are you to line-up correctly and hit the ball with a smooth upstroke from the centre of the club face on the correct initial direction with the correct pace? If their next model could do that I for one would buy one like a shot!<br /><br />Its clever designers made it flourescent so you can line up your final 6 footer for double bogey on the 18th whilst your playing partners are getting last orders in at the 19th.<br /><br />At $14.95 + p&p (www.eez-read.com) it makes a nice, if expensive (and illegal) ball marker, but at the end of the day it’s just a spirit level. And if you want one of those then at least buy one that you can pretend is for putting up those shelves you’ve been promising your wife about for ages.<br /><br />Sorry Eez-Read guys, I found this spirit level at www.maplin.co.uk for the princely sum of £2.49.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBogegvvIqMAh5Y92ThOz5p2FhOLK1b0FKul9MYB-qV6l5kd6e1NfQB3mDAg9gQUPjyDnlOV1pYUClwP4RVTp066h-4aJnhLHhKNfQ6ONFIAqHvFRhyEKRgTOzDSAhyphenhyphenq02L_cFCMPOFc/s1600-h/circular+spirit+level+maplins.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168384171627459666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBogegvvIqMAh5Y92ThOz5p2FhOLK1b0FKul9MYB-qV6l5kd6e1NfQB3mDAg9gQUPjyDnlOV1pYUClwP4RVTp066h-4aJnhLHhKNfQ6ONFIAqHvFRhyEKRgTOzDSAhyphenhyphenq02L_cFCMPOFc/s320/circular+spirit+level+maplins.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />When all is said and done, it was voted Winner of the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show New Product Center Competition. In a show of a thousand exhibitors this came as a surprise to me. But what do I know? After all, I’m not even single figures yet!<br /><br />Over the coming months I will be trying all manner of things in his quest to reduce my handicap to single figures (it’s gone from 24 to 13 in just over a year). If you have a training aid, an idea or an invention, or if you really think you can help save golfers shots then I want to hear from you. If it works it might even get a mention here. NearlySingleFigures can be contacted at his blog on<br />http://golf-nearlysinglefigures.blogspot.com/ or by email via http://www.dizzyheights.com.NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-11573542678836165052007-12-17T17:50:00.001+00:002008-12-15T12:49:08.519+00:00Short Game Golf Tip - Keith Williams<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a short game tip from PGA Master Professional, <a href="http://http//www.dizzyheights.com/golf_coaches.html">Keith Williams</a>. It has helped me get up and down more often and stop my old habit of flicking the ball into the air with my wrists. Try it and let me know what you think.</span><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F6575%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F6575%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-57538014788620275462007-12-17T17:46:00.001+00:002008-12-15T12:50:15.583+00:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Henrik Stenson's Axe Drill Explained by Pete Cowen his coach. This drill is one you can do everyday at home and the background is explained on Pete's </span><a href="http://www.petecowen.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Golf Swing DVD</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - essentially it helps you correctly find the correct swing plane and angle of approach into the ball.</span></div><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F7909%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F7909%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-24754495836402767882007-12-17T17:43:00.003+00:002008-12-15T12:56:12.781+00:00<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mental Game - Swing Thoughts - This is an excellent tip and it has stopped me concentrating too much on swing mechanics (which I have been working on) and instead got me to focus correctly on the target for all my shots. Believe it or not I have found this really useful for my pitching and chipping as I have been really zeroing in on where to best land the ball to get it to release to the hole and this is helping me get up and down more often.</span></p><p align="justify"> </p><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F6546%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F6546%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-15291952489187282222007-12-17T17:39:00.001+00:002008-12-15T14:09:28.199+00:00<p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Switching On and Off your concentration - This is a really useful tip from Dr Karl Morris and it has helped me with my concentration during a round by allowing me to relax between shots and enjoy the round only expending vital mental energy when I really need to.</span></p><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.saveamillionshots.com/misc/flowplayer/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config=%7Bembedded%3Atrue%2CbaseURL%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Fmisc%2Fflowplayer%27%2CsplashImageFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fthumbnails%2F6549%2Ejpg%27%2CvideoFile%3A%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saveamillionshots.com%2Ffiles%2Fvideo%2Fflv%2F6549%2Eflv%27%2CinitialScale%3A%27fit%27%2CcontrolBarBackgroundColor%3A%270x054b81%27%2CautoBuffering%3Atrue%2Cloop%3Afalse%2CautoPlay%3Afalse%2ChideControls%3Afalse%2CshowFullScreenButton%3Afalse%2CshowMenu%3Afalse%7D" width="480" height="388" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="width:480;text-align:center;font-family:verdana;font-size:10pt;"><a href="http://www.saveamillionshots.com">Upload, watch and share your golf videos at SaveAMillionShots.com</a></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1537202007118782589.post-36655428400243108212007-12-17T17:02:00.000+00:002007-12-17T17:05:56.958+00:00Does Singing or Humming a Tune Help Your Golf?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Songs/Tunes that I have sang or hummed during a round to help me improve my golf!</strong><br /><br />Yes I have tried it and yes it can work. Your playing partners may or may not approve, but it is worth a try and it is funny to see oter players’ reactions.<br />Warning - do not use Vanilla Ice’s track “Ice, Ice Baby” as my own experience tells me that it soon becomes “Slice, Slice baby” with the obvious disastrous results. I suppose for similar reasons anything by Dr.Hook should also be avoided!<br /><br /><strong>The Beautiful South “Song for Whoever”</strong><br /><br />During a 4 ball better ball match on the annual boys golfing holiday in Spain one year, a playing partner happened to be humming this tune which I then picked up on. Next thing you know, I’m singing the chorus on the tee (out loud whilst swinging - much to the bemusement of my playing partners) and I start to hit the ball really nicely. My timing seemed to come together, I lost all the usual tension in my swing and I started to belt the ball long and straight. We won the match. I continued to do this for the rest of the holiday and actually played some decent golf; but unfortunately my playing partners did get a bid fed up with it after a while - perhaps if my singing had been a bit better then they wouldn’t have minded! <br /><br />Give it a try! Start the backswing on “Jennifer” and hit the ball between “Philppa and Sue”<br /><br />Jennifer, Alison, Philippa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel too<br /><br />Jennifer, Alison, Philippa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel too<br /><br />Full lyrics below:<br /><br />I love you from the bottom, of my pencil case<br />I love you in the songs, I write and sing<br /><br />Love you because, you put me in my rightful place<br />And I love the prs cheques, that you bring<br /><br />Cheap, never cheap<br />I'll sing you songs till you're asleep<br />When you've gone upstairs I'll creep<br />And write it all down<br /><br />Oh shirley, oh deborah, oh julie, oh jane<br />I wrote so many songs about you<br />I forget your name (I forget your name)<br />Jennifer, alison, phillipa, sue, deborah, annabel, too<br />Jennifer, alison, phillipa, sue, deborah, annabel, too<br />I forget your name<br /><br />I love your from the bottom of my pencil case<br />I love the way you never ask me why<br />I love to write about each wrinkle on your face<br />And I love you till my fountain pen runs dry<br /><br />Deep so deep, the number one I hope to reap<br />Depends upon the tears you weep, so cry, lovey cry, cry, cry, cry<br /><br />Oh cathy, oh alison, oh phillipa, oh sue<br />You made me so much money, I wrote this song for you<br />Jennifer, alison, phillipa, sue, deborah, annabel, too<br />I wrote this song for you<br /><br />So let me talk about mary, a sad story<br />Turned her grief into glory<br />Late at night, by the typewriter light,<br />She ripped his ribbon to shreds<br /><br /><br /><strong>The other song I still often humm (to myself!) during a round is “Ain't Got No - I Got Life” by Nina Simone vs. Groovefinder.</strong><br /><br />Whilst it’s quite a difficult tune to sing (well for me at any rate) I find it’s a great tune to humm and it really helps me mentally take my head out of my game. I stop worrying about swing mechanics and just concentrate on enjoying the game, thinking about what a good shot from my current position would be and walking the course taking in the scenery and chatting to my friends. <br /><br />When I take this approach I tend to play much better golf than when I really try and concentrate for 4 hours (which is impossible, unless you happen to be the world memory champion!). Next time you are playing a competition round try it. Pick a tune and try and humm it to yourself between shots as you walk up the fairway, from green to tee and so forth. It also helps you deal with the inevitable poor shots you will hit rather than the usual swearing, ranting and raving which only serves to get you more tense and worked up for your next shot.<br /><br />For me it helps put the game into proper perspective; I’d like to play like Tiger Woods, but unfortunately mostly play like Victoria Woods. Humming a tune like this helps me see the wood from the trees (sorry for the awful pun); it’s only a game of golf, there are far more important things at stake in life or going on in the world. It helps me stay good humoured and in control, the keys for me to play good golf.<br /><br />I’d love to hear from any other crazed golfers out there who have tried similar things to help them? Anyone aware of any professional golfers using simialr techniques?<br /><br />Full lyrics below:<br /><br />Ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes<br />Ain't got no money, ain't got no class<br />Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schoolin<br />Ain't got no worth, ain't got no job<br />Ain't got no mind<br /><br />What have I got?<br />Why am I alive anyway?<br />Yeah, what have I got?<br />Nobody can take away<br /><br />I got my hair, I got my head<br />I got my brains, I got my ears<br />I got my eyes, I got my nose<br />I got my mouth, I got my smile<br /><br />* I got my tongue, I got my chin<br />I got my neck, I got my boobies<br />I got my heart, I got my soul<br />I got my back, I got my sex<br /><br />Ain't got no father, ain't got no mother<br />Ain't got no children, ain't got no faith<br />Ain't got no earth, ain't got no water<br />Ain't got no ticket, ain't got no token<br />Ain't got no love<br /><br />What have I got?<br />Why am I alive anyway?<br />Yeah, what have I got?<br />Nobody can take away<br /><br />I got my hair, I got my head<br />I got my brains, I got my ears<br />I got my eyes, I got my nose<br />I got my mouth, I got my smile<br /><br />* I got my tongue, I got my chin<br />I got my neck, I got my boobies<br />I got my heart, I got my soul<br />I got my back, I got my sex<br /><br />** I got my arms, I got my hands<br />I got my fingers, Got my legs<br />I got my feet, I got my toes<br />I got my liver, Got my blood<br /><br />I've got life, I've got my freedom<br />I've got a lot<br /> </span></div>NearlySingleFigureshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07569604786097579072noreply@blogger.com0