Check out our website at www.danarader.com or call 704=542-7635 to schedule a lesson with the Guru
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See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
When the head rotates in response to a toe-hit, the ball slides, then rolls, sideways across the face from the toe toward the center of the face. This causes the ball to leave the face with a hooking or draw sidespin. Conversely, when the head rotates the other direction in response a shot hit off the heel, the ball slides, then rolls, sideways across the face from the heel toward the center of the face, which causes the ball to leave the face with a slicing or fade sidespin.
The reason all woodheads are designed with a horizontal curvature across the face (called “bulge”) is because of the gear effect. If shots hit off the toe generate a hook or draw curvature, the face needs to be radiused (curved) horizontally so the toe shot will leave the face angled to the fade side of the target. Thus the bulge radius causes the ball to start off more to the right (for a right-handed golfer; or to the left one a toe shot by a left-handed golfer), after which the hook spin generated by the gear effect takes over to bring the shot back toward the center of the fairway.
For shots off the heel, the bulge radius across the face of the wood causes the ball to take off to the left (for a right-handed golfer; or to the right from a heel shot for a left-hander), after which the fade spin generated by the gear effect takes over to bring the shot back toward the center of the fairway.
The presenter was telling a story about a player who was swinging 4 degrees from the outside with a 6 degree shut club face and was hitting a PULL FADE! Doesnt make sense, right. Until you check the contact point. The player was hitting the ball extremely on the heel of the driver which made the ball curve to the right. (Gear Effect). I don’t give a driver lesson now without a piece of face tape so I can see where the ball is contacting the face. After studying some of the best drivers of the golf ball, I have noticed a couple of observations.
1. Many PGA Tour pros address their driver closer to the TOE of the club. A few notables include: Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Kenny Perry, Trevor Immelman, Jason Sutton (hacking teaching pro, sorry) and many others. Now I know there are many that don’t but bear with me.
2. Set-up distance from the ball (hands to body distance) is larger. The hands tend to hang out from the body and under the eye-line. Where iron set-ups, the hands tend to hang below the shoulder sockets. Here is my theory on this……..
Guru’s Theory (inconclusive): since the physics of the driver swing is flatter by nature, the arms will tend to swing out and away from the body as they get back out in front of the body which throws the club a little farther away from the player than it started. I know in most golf swings, the hands rise up through impact as well. This leads us back to our distance from the ball.
The Punch Line: If the golfer is standing too close to the ball and assuming that they are swinging on a shallow plane/path (in to out)……They will hit the ball in the heel. Even if you are swinging out to the right, the ball will still fade which drives alot of golfers crazy. This is why it is important to check your contact point as well as your swing mechanics and adjust your distance from the ball accordingly. I gave a lesson to a guy the other day that had a very nice pattern, could hit his irons with a beautiful draw but struggled with his driver. I merely moved him 2 inches farther away from the ball and his fade turned into a draw……coincidence ( I don’t know). Just some food for thoughtbut these are the things that keep me up at night. I am just looking for the truth and I appreciate you for reading.
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Here is my latest column for Golf Illustrated that will come out in the Summer issue in June. I will also have a feature article titled “Hands and Arms University” so go get it when it comes out. I think that it is important that we understand the golf swing but as coaches we must create a feel for the student that is often very different than what is actually happening to make a long-lasting pattern change. For those who follow my writing and my videos, you know how important that I feel exaggerated rehearsal swings are to creating the proper feel for the student. For you students…..being able to rehearse your swing changes in slow motion is so valuable to your long-term change. Enjoy the article.
How Do you Start Your Downswing, It Depends On Your Pattern
One of the most difficult moves in the golf swing is “the transition” or what is best described as when the club changes direction from the backswing to the forward swing. What moves first? What should you feel? These are the questions that I am asked by my students on a daily basis. The problem is that every golfers swing patterns are different so we have to figure out what you need for your particular swing plane error. Most coaches would agree that the downswing plane needs to be near or parallel to the original shaft plane established by the club your are using. So that being the ultimate goal, you have to know where your club shaft is on the way down as it approaches the ball. If you are hitting it poorly, you will fall into one of two camps. You are above the plane too much (too steep) or you are underneath the plane too much (too shallow). Most of you will fall into the first camp but I will address both to be fair to those who might fall into the too shallow category. So let’s look at each area and talk about how to start your downswing to get you back on plane.
ABOVE PLANE (TOO STEEP)
If you are swinging the club too much from the outside or above the plane line on the downswing, you are starting the downswing with too much upper body rotation. The average golfer will often say, “I got quick.” This means that the upper body started before the lower body and throws the club outside and across the ball. I call these types of players “SPINNERS”. Typical ball flight for this pattern will be pulls and slices.
THE FIX (WHAT YOU SHOULD FEEL)
To start your downswing, you should feel a small shift to the lead foot with your hips. It is very difficult for most players to separate there lower body and their upper body so if you try to rotate your hips too soon, your shoulders will be pulled out towards the ball and cause you to come over the top. The key feel here is to keep the hips and shoulders closed to the target as you shift your weight. This will give you time to pull or drop your hands and club down to the inside and into the slot. There will be plenty of time to rotate your body through the shot as your now have the opportunity to hit the inside of the golf ball. Just think SHIFT – DROP AND SWING OUT. No Spinning!
BELOW PLANE (TOO SHALLOW)
If you are dropping the club below the plane line in the downswing, your body is rotating too slowly and your spine is tilting away from the target too much. This pattern can cause you to hit the ball thin, fat and create pushes and hooks. You are the opposite of the spinners and are staying closed to the target too long which allow your hands and club to drop too much to the inside.
THE FIX (WHAT YOU SHOULD FEEL)
To start your downswing, you should feel as if you are rotating your upper body faster and more level to the ground. Good players often call this feel,” covering the ball with your back shoulder”. This will keep your spine angle more vertical and not allow the club to drop too much from the inside. When done properly it will feel as if you are swing more to the left (for a right handed player). A great image is to try to get your hands to swing close to your lead leg and exit low in the follow through.
The first thing to figure out is which camp that you fall in. Are you too steep or too shallow? You need to see your coach and get your swing analyzed so you know which feel to implement. Once you find your pattern, the key to making changes is to exaggerate the opposite feel. The more you try to overdo it the closer you will be to an on plane golf swing. I hope this helps and remember,” The only place to get off of the plane, is at the airport.” Good luck with your golf.
To work with the Guru or get more information about the Dana Rader Golf School….check out our website @danarader.com or call 704-542-7635
See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
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.
follow me on twitter @twitter.com/golfgurutv
See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
Here is the video that I promised of Todd Sones opening presentation of our scoring game school that we did together:
Follow me on twitter @twitter.com/golfgurutv…..to schedule a lesson with the guru call 704-542-7635 or visit our website at www.danarader.com
See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
One year ago, I posted a Masters blog with my picks to win. As I got back from Augusta last year, one players caught my eye……..Charl. So I am just one year late with my pick, sorry. As the tournament unfolded last Sunday, twitter was blowing up with predictions and observations. Someone tweeted me and asked who I thought would make a move and I said (If Rory stumbles….which I didn’t think he would) Keep an eye on Charl Schwartzel. Who is this guy you might ask? He has won 6 times on the European tour and has contended in a few PGA tournaments but is a relatively unknown. Just like King Louis (his best friend) from the same country. So what can we learn from Mr. Schwartzel game. One after having lunch with a few past champions like Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus (we know that he is very smart)…..he prepared differently by finding the fastest putts and working backwards. (veteran move). The Masters Champion is usually at the top of the putting stats which he was. He was also was the second player to play the final four holes at 4 under par (since Nicklaus in 86′)
His swing is a picture of efficiency. There is no wasted motion for sure. His posture is one of the straightest on tour (it helps that he is only 140 pounds) but he maintains his spine angle throughout beautifully. I like the fact that he pivots around a fixed center with not a lot of plane shift from backswing to downswing. Which with superior club face control allows him to control his golf ball. With an expert short game that included a nifty bump and run hole out on the 1st which got him going. This is a definite swing for you to copy and I don’t think you have heard the last of Mr. Schwartzel. What do you like about his game? Special thanks to my friend John Dochety for this wonderful shot of his swing. Leave your comments below or share with a friend.
See you on the lesson tee 704-542-7635 ,
Jason
Great putting wins major championships. It couldn’t be more important to the players trying to win at Augusta National this week. Very tricky undulating greens require expert speed control and green reading to boot. Here are some keys to being a great putter and a video that explains the basics of the setup and stroke.
List of keys in order of importance
1. club face control – great putters have very little face rotation in their stroke. Grip in the palm helps with this.
2. posture – straight legs with shoulders tilted over the ball with the back of the neck parallel to the ground to allow hands to hang under the shoulder line.
3. connection – upper arms connected to the shoulders with elbows in for a shoulder controlled stroke is essential to path control
4. eyes over or just inside the ball – allow you to see the line and aim the putter face
The winner of this years Masters will be the best putter and will have to hole some key putts coming down the stretch. Enjoy the tournament and get out and work on your putting stroke.
See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
For many of you, the week of the Masters constitutes the start of your golfing season. Even if the weather isn’t great where you live, after you watch the tournament it makes you want to go play. As this is the 25 years after the greatest Masters Tournament, the 1986 Masters, it brings me back to a philosophy that many legendary coaches bring into the start of any season. Revisiting the basics. Every year, Jack Nicklaus would go to his coach, the legendary Jack Grout and say,”Let’s start over and review the basics.” Grip, Posture, Ball Location and alignment. The great UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden would start every season by showing his players how to properly put on their socks as to not create blisters early in the season and jeopardize valuable practice time. Coach Halas, the Green Bay Packers coach started every training camp by introducing his players to,”Guys, this is a football.” No one is too good for a spring brush up. My mini-tour players and advanced tournament players always start the season by asking me to check their grip and posture because they understand that without these things being in place, the rest of the swing is working on a faulty foundation. So this is a call to action for all of you golfers out there getting ready to start your season. Before you start to practice and in grain some bad habits, go to your coach and ask them to begin with the basics and work from there. You will be glad that you did. Here is a video that I did last year that will give you a head start to checking your grip and posture. Two of the most important basics that will help you put the ground floor on the house of your 2011 golf swing.
To schedule your lesson with the Guru and get your season started off right call 704-542-7635.
See you on the lesson tee,
Coach Guru
This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to speak at the Area vi spring meeting of the Carolinas P.G.A. A big thank you to Woody Allen our area director for asking me to present to the group. I was very excited to share with my fellow professionals some of the things that I have learned in the past few years in the realm of instruction and also how to use social media and marketing to help their business and themselves grow. I have to thank a few important people who helped me construct my presentation and gave me outstanding feedback and ideas on how to deliver this important message. First to my lovely wife, Tiffanie who helped me with my Powerpoint and made sure that I had the presentation that I wanted and also for putting up with my long hours on the computer and on the phone with my mastermind crew. I don’t deserve her but without her support I would not be where I am today. To my mastermind crew who allowed me to bounce ideas and gave me great insight on the information that I was presenting: John Graham (johngrahamgolf), Rob McGill (golfprorob), Jason Helman (jasonhelmangolf) Jay Reid (jayreidgolf) and Scott Fossum (scottfossumgolf). Special thanks to my student and friend, Gene Casiola for helping me with my opening. I have a lot to work on with my public speaking but I wanted to share the video and allow my peeps to give feedback on how I can improve. I really enjoyed my time and I appreciate everyone who came up after the talk to thank me or ask for advice. If you ever need to ask a question or if I can help any of you in any way feel free to email me @jasonsuttn@aol.com or hit me up on twitter.com/onplanegolf. I broke the presentation into 5 parts because it was about an hour and 15 minutes so if you don’t get to all of it I will house it on my corporate speaking page. Let me know if I can be a speaker at your function or group. Enjoy the video and please leave a comment below or share with someone. I appreciate your support and your feedback:
See you on the lesson tee. To schedule a lesson please call 704-542-7635
Guru
This is a custom two day school that I do for James Donnelly, Todd Halpin, Kevin Clark and Chris Caso every year. I thought I would just turn the camera on, let it run and see what came out of it. This is a talk that I give my students in how to get their changes from the lesson tee to the golf course. In part 2, listen for the ball flight question from JD, a very educated golfer asks these questions. Our customers are getting smarter and more educated so you have to be ready. Let me know what you think of this impromptu look at what I do on a daily basis. Here is part 1:
Here is part 2:
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To schedule a lesson with the Guru please call 704-542-7635
See you on the lesson tee,
Jason
The Golf Guru Show 