Here is a great video that I found from the Dave Phillips (TPI Instructor) about the pelvis and early extension. Those of you who have worked with me know that I always draw a line on your rear end to check for early extension (or your hips moving inward toward the ball). This is a difficult problem to fix because most of the time it is physical and not model driven. This is a big problem for amateurs because it limits the space between the club and body in the downswing and causes all sorts of impact problems. If you tend to push, hook or scoop at impact you are most likely trapped because of this issue. Make sure you get tested by a certified T.P.I. professional such as my guy, Mark Kane @www.kanetraining.com to see if you need to work on this all important area of the golf swing to improve your ball striking.
As most of you know, I started a new junior golf program for elite juniors called (J.E.T.S.) that includes 2 coaching sessions per month as well as 2 private lessons per month as well. I wanted to do something different from the normal junior golf program so I partnered with my T.P.I. level 3 trainer, Mark Kane (kanetraining.com) to help develop the kids physically as well as help them improve their golfing skills. I just finished my second month and I am very excited to say that is going very well. We have five kids currently signed up and I am so proud of how hard they have all worked. They are required to keep a journal of what they do when they practice and keep track of their stats using shotbyshot.com. My goal was to create athletes through the fitness and the drills and then teach them golf. The kids did a nice job of setting goals and writing them down and a few of them have been able to mark off a few which is pretty cool. Here are some wins to report so far:
Luke Thalman shot a career low tournament round of 65
Henry Shimp won a NJGC event by shooting 69-71 and is now ranked number one on that tour.
Aaron Walker shot 79-72 to win his first NJGC event
All of the kids have worked so hard and they have pushed each other which was one of my goals of this program. I try to promote a competitive team atmosphere to help motivate each of these fine young men. Here is a couple of videos that will give you an idea of how my coaching sessions are set up. Enjoy.
In an attempt to revamp our junior golf program this season, I took the reins on our elite junior program. I was already coaching several very good junior players so I came up with a system that I thought would bring them together and help take their games to another level. I was already doing many of these things with my kids so I just gathered all of the information and created this program to enhance some teamwork amongst the kids. My program includes 2 hours of private lessons per/month which allows me spend one on one time to work on mechanics and then bringing them together for two group coaching sessions twice a month where I can create a supervised practice atmosphere (similar to a football practice) and I have partnered with the best TPI trainer in Charlotte, Mark Kane to get the kids working on agility, mobility and power. My vision is to bring these kids together to promote some teamwork and also a competitive atmosphere that will drive the kids to become better. It is amazing how much more they tend to focus when their peers are watching and participating. I am also instilling in them the work that is required to become proficient players that might have the ability to play at the collegiate level. I give them homework every session that will include:
journaling about their practice sessions, lessons and results of their required drills
entering scores in their shotbyshot.com accounts to track results and give us direction on the area of the game that we need to work on in our private sessions
the word of the day. So far we have discussed Accountability and Trust
I also created a Facebook group page to allow me to communicate and they can send me results of tournaments, questions that they may have and I can post pictures, articles and videos that I think would be helpful for the group.
Our first month was a huge success as Mark Kane worked the kids out last night and did an amazing job connecting and motivating the kids to push themselves through the “Cyclone” stations. Check out the video and meet our new stars or the future.
If you need more information about this program or have questions, feel free to email me at jasonsuttn@aol.com or check out the Dana Rader Golf School website @http://www.danarader.com or call 704-542-7635 to schedule a lesson
Please share if you feel this information is helpful and thanks for checking out my blog.
As I continue to film new episodes of Guru TV, If you have come to my blog late and haven’t seen some of my old video shows, I thought I would bring back a few of the archives from days of old. This is a video that I did with one of my students and my TPI fitness expert that I work with, Mark Kane. As we start the golfing season it is important that you understand more about your body. What can it do and what it can’t do is important information to have in order to target these weak links in your fitness program. I highly suggest that you seek out an educated T.P.I. golf fitness instructor that can help develop a program that meets your needs. It always surprises me how many golfers that don’t know about The Titleist Performance Institute so click on the link to get more information
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See you on the lesson tee (704-542-7635 to schedule your time with the Guru)
As you know I work hard on my fitness. I am a big runner and recently completed my third marathon this past October (Chicago Marathon). I am not fortunate to have a very high metabolism, so i have to work hard to keep my weight down and to stay fit. I gain weight by just looking at a chocolate chip cookie. If you are one of those guys that can’t gain weight, I hate you, seriously. One of my goals this year, to help improve my running and my golf is to get stronger in my core and upper body. My next race is the New York Marathon in November so I have time. If you are not getting the results from your workouts, you probably need to mix it up a bit, get out of the box. So I started doing my research and I think I found exactly what I have been looking for. This is my 2011 fitness routine as demonstrated by a PGA tour player.
Hahaha! Gotcha! It can’t be all serious, right. Who would have thought that
Ben Crane had a sense of humor.
Follow me on twitter @twitter.com/onplanegolf
I will be back soon with a serious post, but until then…….best of luck with your workouts and I hope you laughed today
First of all, I am not getting paid or have I even met anyone associated with this company but I had to share this new product with Guru Nation. I recently had one of my elite juniors out for a tune-up and I noticed a ring in his back pocket. I thought, “I didn’t know that he rubbed snuff.” Come to find out that it wasn’t a snuff can but an odd looking bracelet. His dad explains to me that this product is not even out yet and Lucas Glover, Anthony Kim and several other tour players are wearing these bracelets or in their pockets as it only has to be touching your body somewhere to work. My student proceeded to do these various tests on flexibility, strength and mobility that you will see demonstrated in this video and it works just like the video shows. I know it sounds crazy but it is true. I will let you know when I get mine and keep you updated on the results.
The 4 areas of your golf game that you must work on are: 1)The full swing 2)the short game/putting 3)The mental game and 4)YOUR FITNESS
What does your fitness regimen include? Are you working on your weak areas? Do you know where your weak links are? Find a ceritified TPI Instructor and get an assessment today. Enjoy the video.
I have had a few days to review and discuss what myself and my colleagues liked at the show. I have been going to the show for about the last 10 years and it has definitely changed in the fact that some of the companies have pulled out but there was still quite a buzz and excitement about new products and a new golf season. Here are a few things that I thought were worth looking at and the sites where you can find them. I will be purchasing a few of these to try with my students this season.
1. eyelinegolf.com– great putting and training aids. I liked the Hank Haney impact putting system, the dual plane putting system and the impact putting ball.
2. pivotpro.net – interesting aid for swayers and pivot problems
3. flightscope.com – a 3d doppler radar system (like trackman) but half the price.
4. K-vest.com – I thought the k trainer- The most intuitive training system in golf, from the developers of the k-vest. k vest is awesome but not new.
5. pro-stance.com – helps you improve your dynamic balance
6. morodz.com – great alignment aids for ball position as well
*****golfaroundtheworld.com – a site where we get most of our training aids. For all my students that ask me “where did you get that”
For those of you that haven’t been to the show, you need to go at least once. Your pro at your club can get guest passes. Here is a small taste of what you will see and a portion of a TPI seminar that is very good. Please excuse the camera work as it is not easy to walk and film. Click the link below to view the film
Do you find your arms seperating in your backswing? Ideally, the distance between the elbows should stay the same from address to the top of your swing. I know this isn’t a fundamental as there have been a few pretty good players play with a high rear arm, such as: Jack Nicklaus, Angel Cabrerra and Carl Petterson. This makes the transition that much harder to shallow out the club and keep it on plane. Keep the elbows together and see if it improves your ball striking. Enjoy the show. Comments are welcome.
Welcome to my first away game post. I am coming to you from the Orlando Airport as I wait on my flight back to Charlotte. It is now about 60 degrees and it looks like it is about 25 in Charlotte. It was a very productive show but I am looking forward to getting back to my family that I miss very much. I don’t do a lot of traveling so it makes it tough when they can’t make the trip. The show was enormous as usual with most of the major companies represented (aside from Nike equipment). There were lots of gadgets and toys to observe and new technology that can be used to enhance your ability to learn this great game. I wouldn’t say that there was one thing that blew me away but I did leave with a few interesting training aid ideas for the upcoming season. I attended several seminars, acquired some new information and caught up with old friends to exchange ideas. I took some video of some of the things that I saw and will hopefully have that ready to post in a few days. The highlight for me (as always), is the Golf Magazine Top 100 party where I get to mingle with the games greatest teachers and meet legends in our industry. Seymour Dunn was inducted into the hall of fame. It was hosted by Peter Kessler (whom I met for the first time and will be a guest on his radio show in few weeks), so that was exciting. I met legends like Bob Toski and Phil Ritson and caught up with old friends. What I can tell you about the golf industry is that I feel it is on the way back. It will rebound but we have a ways to go. I will try to do my part by continuing to grow the game one student at a time. Check back in to see video and more insight from the PGA show from the guru.
The Golf Guru Show 