Beginning golfer shoots best round
Posted Thursday, May 10, 2012 by Bob Doyle
HS Sophomore Brett started playing golf about five months ago, and was able to earn a spot on his HS JV golf team. Like most new golfers, he struggled with the game. His average score was around 125. Two weeks ago, I gave him his first lesson and had him get comfortable with the PRO-HEAD Trainer. Brett was pretty flexible and was able to use the Hat attachment. 
During the next week, he was able to get in a few practice nine’s but did not improve his score. The day after his second lesson, Brett played a JV match. He could not wait to tell me that he shot a 108, his best score ever. He said “it felt like a different swing, being able to keep his head steady.”
Read More 0 CommentsAccurate Feedback Is Important to Improving One’s Golf Swing
Posted Tuesday, February 28, 2012 by Bob Doyle
PGA Pros, Golf Instructors and Analysts use all kinds of feedback to help their students improve their golf swings. The purpose of such feedback is to help the student golfer get a mental picture and ultimately, a physical “feel” for the correct swing. The earlier in one’s career that accurate feedback is offered, the earlier will the golfer develop that “feel.”
Jack Grout grabbed young Jack Nicklaus’s hair at age 10, to hold Nicklaus’ head steady. Grout was frustrated with Nicklaus’ “bobbing head.” But Jack got the message through this tactile, physical or kinesthetic feedback. In 2010, during Tiger Woods warm up for a PGA Tournament, Steve Williams was seen on TV holding the grip end of a club to Tiger’s head, to give feedback to Tiger to keep his head steady.
Other types of feedback are offered with the help of video and with words. Video feedback can help golfers who learn best through pictures, images and photos. Visual feedback helps the student get that mental picture of a correct swing. Words of instruction also give feedback, aimed at correcting flaws in a golfer’s swing. Ultimately however, all feedback must be transmitted to the muscles of the golfer, so that the swing can be frequently repeated through “feel.”
Much is written and verbalized about terms like feel, muscle memory, motor memory, procedural memory, or even habit. All of these terms can probably be used interchangeably, according to one’s liking. But they are not memories stored in one’s muscles, but memories stored in one’s brain that are similar to the physical tasks that are repeated by one’s muscles.
All of the above terms are a form of procedural or physical memory, gained through repetition that can help golfers improve their swings and develop good and consistent swings. Some might even call this memory “habit” but that term has acquired a negative connotation; like a “bad habit.” But a good swing can also have been developed through good habits.
Whatever is your liking, feedback is required to gain a consistent and repeatable swing through repetition. The longer the repetition of the correct swing, the stronger is that memory or habit. It is for this reason that almost all of today’s top golfers started playing and getting correct feedback when they were quite young. Tiger at age 2, Hogan and Player at age 9, Nicklaus at age 10, Paula Cramer at age 10, Michelle Wie at age 8, to name a few of current and past golfing stars.
Whether it is tactile, visual, auditory or physical it is quite difficult to develop a good golf swing or to improve upon one’s golf swing without accurate feedback.
Read More 0 CommentsKeep a Steady Head and Maintain Your Golf Spine Angle
Posted Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Bob Doyle
Here is an excellent article published in the Korea Times on Jan. 10, 2012 and written by Kim Jeong-kyoo
Tommy Armour emphasizes in “How to Play Your Best Golf All the Time” that, “The cardinal principle of all golf shot-making is that if you move your head, you ruin body action.”
Bobby Jones was quoted as saying, “Should your head ever get ahead of the ball, at any point in the swing, a poor shot will no doubt result.”
‘The Little Red Book’ written by Harvey Penick says, “A golfer must stay behind the ball. I mean set up with your head behind the ball and keep your head behind the ball. If you move your head forward during your downswing or through impact, you will hit a wee, ugly shot, probably a pulled slice.”
Jack Nicklaus is the most steadfast in his belief that you have to keep your head still. In his book “Golf My Way,” Nicklaus warns, Any shifting of the head, at any point from address to impact, will alter the arc and plane of the swing, which, if not a totally destructive factor, is certainly a complicating one.”
Despite its paramount importance, it can be difficult to keep your head steady during the swing. It’s simply not easy and unnatural, but just think what Ben Hogan said, “Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do, and you will probably come very close to having a perfect golf swing.”
After all, as you cannot make a perfect golf swing without steadying your head, you need to find ways to do so.
A simple way of steadying your head is to turn your attention to the lump at the nape of the neck rather than your head. It’s far easier to keep it steady than your head, which is destined to move innately and readily.
Keeping the lump at the nape of the neck, or rather the top of your spine steady during the swing makes it unnecessary to strive to keep your head steady. By doing this, you can steady your head all naturally.
One of the tenets crucial to making a consistent, powerful swing is to establish a correct spine tilt at address and maintain it throughout the swing. You can retain the spine angle by simply steadying the lump at the nape of your neck.
In a good golf swing the lump functions as the suspension point of the shoulders, arms, hands and club and to make a perfectly circular golf swing it’s necessary to keep the suspension point steady.
Visualize yourself forming a circle with a pair of compasses. That is the same circular motion demanded for a successful golf swing. Imagine the lump at the nape of your neck being the metal point of the compasses. To draw a perfect circle you need to keep the pivot point static or firmly fixed. There is no way to draw a flawless circle if the central point moves.
The same should be true in a golf swing. The lump at the nape of your neck, or rather the suspension point of the club, needs to serve as your swing center, which should remain in a steady position from the address until well after impact. Only after impact does momentum cause the swing center to swivel toward the target.
Allowing the lump at the nape of the neck to move to the right away from the ball on the backswing leads to a sway and failure to keep it from moving forward ahead of the ball on the downswing causes a lunge. Both motions are big swing faults that lead to poor shots.
Recreational golfers tend to keep the head down at address to steady it, which is also a fatal fault. It causes them to bury their chin in their chest, which restricts shoulder turn and forces the head to wobble or bob.
To make a dynamic swing with a full body turn and free arm swing, you need to hold your chin and head up with your eyes fixed on the ball. Not only does that allow your shoulders to turn fully under the chin on the way back but it also encourages your arms to swing freely on the way down, with your head remaining steady.
Read More 0 CommentsPRO-HEAD GOLF IS GRANTED A SECOND US PATENT
Posted Friday, December 16, 2011 by Bob Doyle
PRO-HEAD Golf Is Granted a Second Patent
Toms River, NJ – The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a second patent to Robert S. (Bob) Doyle, of Toms River, NJ for his Sports Training Apparatus to Help Athletes Improve Their Swings. The device can be used not only for golf but for other sports requiring hand-eye coordination and a steady head at impact.
The first patent, granted in 2010 enabled Forever Better Golf Inc. DBA as PRO-HEAD GOLF, to launch its flagship product, the PRO-HEAD Golf Trainer. The device quickly caught on with golfers, golf Professionals and Instructors.
The PRO-HEAD Trainer was fully endorsed by Martin Hall, the 2009 PGA Golf Instructor of the Year, and currently the Teacher on Golf Channel’s weekly School of Golf. Martin can be seen demonstrating the PRO-HEAD Trainer on the company’s web site at www.pro-head.com.
Doyle thanks Patent Attorney Clifford Frayne of Brick, NJ for his diligent work with the USPTO in acquiring both patents. The new patent incorporates design improvements and enables the device to be used for baseball, softball, hockey and tennis. All athletes, juniors and seniors, male and female, of any height or weight, left or right handed can improve their swings by practicing with PRO-HEAD Trainers.
Read More 0 CommentsFree – LEARN GOLF – Clinic offered by PRO-HEAD GOLF`
Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011 by Bob Doyle
Toms River, NJ – Toms River and nearby residents can get into golf by attending the FREE LEARN GOLF Clinic on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Toms River Sports Academy, located at 1825 Hooper Avenue, behind Rand’s Plaza. The Free clinic is co-sponsored by the Toms River Sports Academy and Forever Better Golf, Inc.
The LEARN GOLF Clinic is designed to acquaint people with the sport in a beginner friendly environment. It is a great program and opportunity for somebody that has always wanted to pick up the game of golf, but never had the time to do so because of their careers or family responsibilities.
“It is also a way for somebody to get back into the game of golf,” said Bob Doyle, USGTF Instructor and President of Forever Better Golf Inc. “This is also a benefit to Toms River as we are continuing our focus on teaching baseball/softball and now golf and all within our community” said Jim Domino, President of the Toms River Sports Academy.
Forever Better Golf and the Toms River Sports Academy have been hosting these FREE clinics since June and the clinics have been booked to capacity each time. Participants are taught the basics of a full golf swing and hit real balls at the indoor facility. After the first lesson, the beginner can determine if she/he wants to proceed.
Subsequent lessons are held at nearby golf courses, where chipping, pitching and putting are taught as well as safety and etiquette.
From the beginner to re-beginner to the experienced golfer, the LEARN GOLF Clinic is a great way to get back into the game. Space is limited to a first come basis so please enroll early.
For more information or to sign up for the clinic, contact Bob Doyle at 732-678-5244, or email bobd@foreverbettergolf.com.
Read More 0 CommentsEasy to make FREE Training Aid
Posted Saturday, October 8, 2011 by Bob Doyle
Most, if not all, pro golfers and instructors will point out the importance of the left arm (for right handed golfers; the right arm for left handed golfers). Ben Hogan was naturally left handed. He became a right handed golfer because he could not find a set of left handed clubs. I actually saw John Daly hit a ball 200 yards from the practice area with a fairway wood/metal, using ONLY his left arm.
Recognizing this aspect, one can buy weighted golf clubs and training aids for up to $200 each. Here is a tip to do the same, but it will cost you next to nothing.
Find any somewhat flat shaped piece of iron, steel, brass or lead that weighs 3 to 6 ounces. A tear-drop lead fishing sinker is ideal. Place the metal weight on the face of any old or used iron or metal/wood or driver that is hanging around your garage. With duct tape, securely tape the metal to the club. Use several wraps of the tape so that the weight will not fly off during your practice swings.
Now you can swing with your left arm only. Or you can swing with both hands, using your usual grip. Take a few swings daily with your “new” home-made training aid and you will soon find that you have better control of the clubhead because you have strengthened your less dominant hand. You do not have to hit balls, real or plastic. The purposes of the aid and the exercise are to give you more control, which will come automatically, as your strength increases.
Read More 3 CommentsWatch David Tom to Improve Your Swing
Posted Sunday, June 5, 2011 by Bob Doyle
Cograts to David Toms for following up his anguishing second place finish at the Players’ Tournament with his win at Ben Hogan’s Colonial. His swing seems effortless. His spine angle, as noted and shown on video by analyst Peter Kostis during the final round, remains absolutely constant. His head stays almost perfectly steady throughout the swing. At age 44, he is still able to incorporate these two aspects into his swing. Watch and enjoy his swing in this video. And if you can, duplicate it. Your swing will definitely improve.
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