Each Month our Head Professional, Tim Brown offers game improvement tips. His lessons are simple and easy to understand. Tim's Tips can also be found in Golf Tips Magazine.

Golf & Marriage

Dear Members, I was so excited to write this controversial article that I had a hard time waiting for the newsletter. Honestly, I do not think it is confrontational; I am however, trying to get you to think about your game. We should try to score our best, play our best, and compete at our best. However, you need to understand that the best in the world constantly struggle. The tour average for holing a 10 foot putt is 86% and 26% for a fifteen footer. This means that Steve Stricker who was 1st on tour for approach shots from 50 to 125 yards (32.5 ft.) still putts 1.726 times per green (also a tour 1st.) Yet we moan and groan and break clubs if we don't hit it stiff from 150 yards. Well, not our members, but maybe some of Stonebridge's. The secret to getting better at golf could be the same secret to having a better marriage; RAISE YOUR APPRECIATION AND LOWER YOUR EXPECTATION! It reminds me of people who say "I am a good person." My response is usually "really, compared to who - Jesus!" Compared to Christ we are not that good. The baseline matters! We need to have a proper baseline in order to accurately compare. In the past I believe the baseline has been warped and there is a real disconnect between how we think we should play and how we actually play. My advice is to use the stats as a measuring stick to see where you can improve your game! Start to record some stats of your own, fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and three putts. These statistics would be a good start for comparison. Knowing your stats would show you where you need to improve. Moreover, knowing the stats could help you keep grinding, instead of quitting the next time you miss that 6 footer. In conclusion, I hope I got you to think a little and to get you to enjoy your game more, by understanding that this is the hardest game in the world. Enjoy it or endure it, the choice is ours we should try to score our best, play our best, and compete at our best. You simply have to learn to love the pursuit of it because you never own it; you just rent it - sometimes! I know it wasn't that controversial. A real debate would be discussing who is a better Quarterback? Drew Brees or Donovan Mcnabb. On second thought that wouldn't be such a good topic either…the stats are clear on that one too! Thanks. Tim

The In-Crowd

Do you understand proper impact alignments? What you're about to hear may seem incorrect and unnatural but could change your golfing life. To hit a straight shot with any club consistently you must contact the ball with the clubface open, not square. Yes it is true!! Science has shown the club face to be 2 to 3 degrees open at impact to produce a draw. The key to understanding this is quite simple. Ball/club impact is different from ball/club separation. Remember, the club should be traveling in an arc. The face contacts the ball slightly from the inside and slightly open while moving in an arc. The ball then stays on the face for about a half-inch, therefore leaving the face straight at your target. Okay, so it is a little scientific, but let's remember a "guided struggle is better than a blind one!!" "My people perish for a lack of knowledge," is a statement that applies to golf for sure. Incorrect concepts lead to incorrect actions, no matter how well meaning. So what is the application of this truth? Often the illusion of square impact causes a bending of the lead wrist. This is the most common fault and most hazardous in golf. Once the lead wrist bends, solid contact, direction and power vanish. The ability to manage short game shots becomes almost impossible. Now, armed with the correct data you can start the process of improvement. Make some practice swings and pause just prior to impact and you should see the following: 1. The club face slightly open. (in the process of closing-toe passing the heel) 2. The club head approaching the inside aft quadrant of the ball. 3. The grip end of the club in advance of the ball. Start with the correct concept and dig it out of the dirt.

Five Putting Points to Ponder

The way Tiger has putted throughout his career, especially the past few seasons is quite remarkable. In my considered opinion, he is the greatest we have ever seen on the greens. Nicklaus was close, but Tiger has made more longer, more difficult, putts than anyone in history. Moreover, I must thank Tiger for making me a better instructor. I am constantly looking, searching for the secrets he employs. I say secrets, but at the end of the day it comes down to proper mechanics, heart, hard work, imagination and TALENT! Utilizing my Five P's does not mean you will sink'em like Eldrick, but you will learn to post lower scores! Follow the list of points in sequence and "learn to roll the potato!" 1. Predict! Walk to the side of the putt, forming a triangle between the ball, the ground and yourself. This will assist you in determining uphill or downhill slopes more accurately. Also, remember the break is more important nearer the hole, so inspect carefully prior to deciding on an aim line. 2. Point the logo of the ball along your aim line! Use the logo or a self made line to establish an aim line /direction. Almost every tour player on television, male or female, creates an aim line using a line on the ball, yet, I rarely see golfers do this. Do you all watch TV, Hello! Hint! Hint! 3. Make Practice swings looking down your aim line! If you threw someone your keys you wouldn't look at the keys in your hand. You would focus on the target. So often people make practice swings, never looking down the line. Spend more time looking at your target than the ball! 4. Point the line on the putter in line with the ball (logo)! Please do not tell Stonebridge members this Brownism, I am about to share..... "Your putter should be square to your line twice!!" Once at address and once at impact. Make those lines match up and short putts are a breeze. 5. Putt to the Picture!! Tiger's dad told him every putt was a picture. He simply stroked the ball into the picture his mind created. See your break and let it roll!! In conclusion, it may seem at first that this new procedure could slow down your pace of play; however with just a few minutes practice you will see it takes very little time to be more effective on the moss. I promise you will save time with more one putts and less three putts.

Curing Shots from the Toe

A friend of mine once took a lesson from Harvey Penick in Austin years ago. Harvey was up in age and did not want to go outside due to some inclement weather. He asked my friend to bring his clubs inside for an inspection. Mr. Penick looked closely at the marks on the club face and checked the worn portions of his grip. After several verbal instructions, my friend was cured by the legend without hitting a ball. The ball flight, divots, and marks around the club face are all pieces of evidence that we should constantly monitor. By looking into the evidence we start the process of solving any swing issues we may possess. For example, an ill common to many golfers is hitting the ball off the toe of the club. Hitting on the toe of the club causes the ball to fly shorter and often to the right. If upon examining the evidence you find marks on the toe portion of your club, here are a few reasons why: 1. You are standing too far from the ball. 2. Clubs are too short 3. Clubs are too flat 4. You are changing the distance from the ball while swinging. 5. You could be shortening your radius (arm or wrist) while swinging. 6. Your swing is too vertical or steep (most common) 7. The toe of the club is gets to the ball first. (only if hooking) Reference this list the next time you play or practice. Go ahead and make the necessary adjustments, thereby producing a counterbalance to ensure a center face hit!

My Secret to Striking Irons

This month,s instruction article is a little different from the past articles. Typically, I would dole out some info for you to follow. There is certainly nothing wrong with that approach. However, the job of the educator is to guide the student to learn for his or herself! I am asking you to ponder a concept I have used often in my teaching. Keep in mind that beliefs almost always determine actions, so it is crucial you begin your journey with the correct understanding. These ideas are correct. They have been purchased with blood, sweat, tears and years of lesson giving and taking. I know if you muse on them you will improve! Remember "a guided struggle is much better than a blind one!" My secret is as follows: First, make a hole in the ground. Make a divot! The golf club is designed to descend on the ball. Hit the ball then the ground just after. You do not get under the ball to get it airborne. Ladies and gentleman, if you do not scuff the grass and make a hole, you are contributing to unemployment! "Make a hole" is a phrase heard often in the military and it is great advice. Second, make the ball go in the same direction as the divot! Let me give you a hint, grip, grip and more grip! Finally, spend the rest of your life making the divot go at the target. Work on the secret and if you need some help give me a call.

Power Trip

How is power created in the golf swing? Most people associate power with club head speed. However, true power comes from pressure. Club head speed properly applied creates pressure which is the real recipe for powerful golf shots. Pressure is the result of angles being formed, stored, delivered and released. For example, in a model top of swing position, the shoulders are turned ninety degrees, the right arm is bent ninety degrees and the left wrist is cocked ninety degrees. If these important angles straighten/release at the proper time, the club head at impact applies pressure to the ball. The golf ball actually changes shape at impact. I call this shape change, "the squash." Here's a drill that will help you "squash" the ball. First, take a normal stance with a seven iron. Second, bring left foot over to the right foot, moving the club head also. Now the ball will be several inches forward. Next, swing back to the top. Now, step forward replacing your left foot allowing your weight to transfer before you swing down to hit the ball. Caution! You must step before you swing or the angles you formed at the top of the back swing, will straighten/release prematurely! The result will be power leakage! Stepping before swinging will allow the ball to be hit while the angles are in the process of straightening - Squash!! Try this step drill; I know it will help you.

Simplifying Green Side Bunker Play

Do you know why the green side bunker shot is the most forgiving shot in the game? The answer is an obvious one; you never have to contact the ball. The amount of precision required in hitting a drive down the fairway is much greater than hitting a bunker shot around the green. Yet, this shot is one of the most feared shots amateurs play. To take the fear out of our green side bunker game, we need to simplify our approach. First, assuming a good lie in the bunker, dial the club face open. Holding the club straight out in front of you, open the club face to one o'clock, then take your grip. Second, lower the bottom of the swing arc. Dig your feet into the sand, lowering your swing arc, promoting contact with the sand first. During the swing the club travels down under the ball never making contact. The ball flies out like a grain of sand. Third, make a large enough swing in the bunker to throw the sand onto the green. The biggest mistake amateurs make in green side bunker play is employing too little swing. The small swing is unable to propel the heavy sand far enough, therefore the ball comes to rest back in the hazard. Note... I know this scenario does not happen to any of our members. However, you may know of someone else that could use this info! Finally, try one of my favorite bunker drills. Draw a circle in the sand approximately three times the size of your golf ball. I call this circle the 'island!' Once you have your 'island', make a large enough swing to throw the entire circle of sand onto the green. Repeat this several times. When ready, place a ball in the middle of the island; make a swing and your out!

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