As I strive to learn more about the golf swing and ultimately help my students play better, I often turn to my golf pro friends through my social media connections. Whether it is one of the many groups that I am in on Facebook or my favorite way to exchange ideas,Twitter.com. So I was curious about what everyone thought about FOOT FLARE or the positioning of the feet at address and how it impacted a golfers swing. As I write this post I will tell you that I don’t have all the answers but experience and reasearch have their place because I can tell you what has worked for me as I will give you my opinion on this subject and give you some options that might help. But I want to share with you first what my colleagues answered when I posed the question: How much foot flare (with both feet) do you teach and feel is important and why? Here is what I got:
@golfgurutv OK back to original question. Trail foot square lead foot flair towards target.
So it seems that most are in favor of some foot flare. 10 to 30 degrees seems to be the consensus on the front foot. The back foot seemas to be mixed a bit.Some want it square and some flared. So here is how I see it. I would love to hear from more coaches and players with their opinions as I am just trying to learn what is the best way for the player. From my experience:
1. One of the most consistent swing errors that I see is the trail hip moving lateral in the backswing (sometimes even moving the weight to the outside of the rear shoe). This can cause you to limit your shoulder rotation and throw off your timing and sequence in the downswing. It often happens when the player is trying to keep their hips still (X Factor). With a limited shoulder turn, your hands/arms and the club cannot get deep (more behind you) enough to have a chance to returning the club on plane or from the inside without a huge plane shift.
2. Secondly, I see so many golfers that have been drilled into their heads the importance of turning through the downswing that they don’t have enough lateral slide toward to target to allow the hands/arms club shaft to drop to the inside enough. They spin the body, keep their weight back too long and end up cutting across the ball. I call these players, “BACK SIDED SPIN DOCTORS”
So how will foot flare help these problems and why?
I would suspect that it has a lot to do with knee, hip and ankle mobility for sure so this should be checked. I work with som many golfers that have had knee and ankle injuries and foot positioning is crucial for these folks.
RIGHT FOOT FLARE: Angling your rear foot out 10 to 20 degrees will increase your ability to extend your rear leg and rotate your hips more. More hip rotation will increase your shoulder rotation. If you don’t think you turn your shoulders enough, check this and you will see what i mean. The right knee will change flexion on the backswing. Look at any good player and you will see this. I didn’t say straighten but change, very important. If you try to keep your right knee flexed and don’t let your hips turn……Unless you are extremely hypermobile….I would expect you to shoot somewhere in the low 200’s.
Both Feet Square "Blocked"
SQUARE FOOT: You will see golfers with this back foot position and you can do it if you have good hip/knee/ankle mobility. It is easier to roll to the outside of your rear foot with your weight in this position so be careful.
LEAD FOOT FLARE:Probably the most important foot position in the golf swing: Teachers like Mac O’Grady
Lead Flare back Square
and many others have spoken of the importance of left foot flare. So what benefit will you have by flaring your foot 10-30 degrees.
1. It allows for the hips to slide laterally longer in the downswing which slows down the shoulder rotation (keeps you spin doctors at bay). This allows time to drop the club to the inside much easier. So If you are a cut across slicer, you probably need more slide and less turn for sure.
2. It takes pressure off of the left knee as it allows the knee to get over or slightly outside the ankle joint before starting to straighten (or post)……Does Tiger Woods come to mind? His new more centered pivot requires more hip and knee slide toward the target which is easier on his bad knee…hmmmm? And he has more foot flare as well. Less injury to the knees and ankles can’t be bad, right?
BOTH FEET FLARED = DUCK STANCE (best of both worlds)The Duck Stance "My recommendation"
I see so many of my students that start with a square lead foot and pick it up and turn their toes toward the target and wonder why….Because it should have been there to begin with.
When you are watching football this weekend, pay close attention to the position of the place kickers lead foot and how that affects his ability to slide forward, swing his leg from the inside and turn his hips through the strike.
Ok, so that’s my take on foot flare. Would love to hear what you think as I am trying to learn and the more I look at players on the PGA tour the more different everyone looks so we need to make some sense of it all. Until then…..
The bible says,”Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.” Not to get preachy with you but the point is that we can accomplish more in a group than as individuals. Our goal for this project was simple,”To Help Grow the Game Of Golf,” As the goal stated is very straight forward, the avenues that lead us down this journey can take on many forms. So here is my lists that make up the objective and then I will review the project for those coming late to the gathering.
1. to share quality golf information with the average golfer through a single social media vehicle (twitter.com)
2. to highlight some outstanding PGA and CPGA professionals that you may not have heard of before
3. to share knowledge and open up discussion/debate with other coaches in the industry
4. to stretch ourselves to become better through the sharing and learning process (iron sharpens iron)
5. And finally to show other golf professionals the value and effectiveness of social media through tracking views and comments that could lead to future relationships and business with: students, members and other coaches)
So lets backtrack for those that are hearing the details of the “Seven Nights at the Twitter Academy” for the first time.
My good friend, CPGA teaching professional, Jason Helman (jasonhelmangolf) came up with this idea to mirror the Golf Channels week of instruction shows by having 7 golf professionals shoot 7 videos on different parts of the game, unveil them every night @8 p.m. on twitter. The catch was that you have to be following one of the group in order to view the videos as we all kept the link unlisted so we could control who viewed.
The group that was assembled is a very tight-knit group that converse regularly on twitter and other social networking sites. I affectionately dubbed the group; “The Mastermind Crew” after Napoleon Hill’s (Think and Grow Rich) idea which states in chapter 10.”The “Mastermind” may be defined as: “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definitive purpose.” #mastermindcrew……..So here they are for you to follow: Jason Helman (@jasonhelmangolf) Sara Dickson (@sara_PGA) Rob McGill (@golfprorob)Kirk Oguri (@kirkoguri)Andrew Marr (@andrewmarrgolf) Dennis Sales (@dennissalesgolf) A very important member of our mastermind crew is John Graham, aka. the king of twitter (@johngrahamgolf) . John was originally going to participate in our project but was out-of-town so couldn’t do it. I am very fortunate to call John a good friend but all of us in the crew have been affected by his knowledge, sharing of that knowledge and friendship over the years so I didn’t want to leave JG out for sure. I would expect to see him in future videos for the project.
I am very fortunate to be a part of this outstanding group of professionals as I have learned so much from every one of them and learned some new things this week watching their videos. All of us met via twitter which show you how powerful this tool can be if you are searching for information, new relationships and interested in gaining more knowledge about your profession.
As for the question of have we reached our goals for this project? I would say this is only the beginning as the behind the scenes information and ideas that have been traded has unlimited potential. We will see where it takes us all but I can tell you that I am so thankful for Jason Helman for coming up with the idea, allowing me to be a part of it and guiding us through it. I appreciate the kind comments and questions for our #mastermind crew as we posted our videos. They were all wonderful and I think we represented ourselves well. The sky is the limit and I hope that you will come with us as we try to improve your game as we are passionate about sharing, coaching and this great game of GOLF.
Update: As of now we have collectively over 1700 views for our shows, not bad for 1 week!
So here they are! The 7 nights Crew in order of days they were presented
Oh yeah, Follow me on Twitter(@golfgurutv)…..almost forgot!
Just wanted to tell all of you who have read my blog or watched an episode of GURU TV, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope that I have helped your game or pointed you in the right direction in some way form or fashion. I created this blog for YOU, the passionate golfer and golf fan and I am excited to see what lies ahead as I start another chapter of writing and tv shows. As always, feel free to leave a comment in the comment section about what you would like to see in the blog or ask a question that I will air on Guru TV. I know I open it up to you from time to time with an ask the guru segment but this is the time of year as things slow down that I will be able to answer questions, shoot new episodes and interact with you all which is my goal. I am always accessible for you, the passionate golfer or coaches that want to communicate. You can find me in a variety of places in the social media world but most of all here:
I couldn’t let one of the most epic weekends of my professional career go by without writing something about it. Last weekend, I successfully completed the first step in obtaining certification of Aimpoint green reading. For those of you who don’t know about this system, it is by far the most revolutionary green reading system in the golfing world. You may have seen the green line on some of the PGA tour events that shows the player where to aim in order to make it. There is a system that has been devised by Mark Sweeney that shows you, after some minor calculations, EXACTLY where to aim in order to make the putt. Not only did I get a first hand look at the system but I was very fortunate to be able to work with my good friend and Senior Aimpoint Instructor, John Graham (johngrahamgolf.com). Any time that you get to spend time with one of the world’s top instructors, especially Mr. Graham, you end up getting so much more than expected. What I got was an education from the master that will change my career forever. John and I did 2 clinics with 17 participants which included mostly Carmel CC members and a few other loyal students and they got an eye-opening experience that will (if practiced) change their games for the better.
The fundamentals clinics covered all putts from 20 putts and in which is a great place to start. The following day, I spent an entire day on the South Course at Carmel with John learning to read longer multiple plane putts (more than 1 slope change or break direction). This was as much fun as a golf professional could have as i picked it up quickly and was amazed at how accurate it is from such a long distance. I missed a 60 foot triple breaker by a couple of inches and found myself disappointed that it didn’t go in. Before, I would have been happy to get it within 3 feet. Without giving away the secret which you will have to get by attending a clinic…..Here are a few things that I learned from John and the aimpoint method
1. It is a skill just like any other in golf that has to be practiced (no shortcuts)
2. What I thought was 6 feet was only 5 (important when figuring out how far you are from the hole)
3. The process does not take more time than what you would consider a normal green reading process (which includes meaningless squats behind the ball and walking around too much)
4. there was not as much math as I expected (it is already done for you)
5. Your worst Aimpoint read is going to be better than your best guess with the conventional method (I promise you!)
After my final certification test in a few months with Mr. Sweeney, I will be honored to be the only Aimpoint instructor in the Charlotte area. Special thanks to my good friend John Graham for making the information easy to understand for my students and for myself. You are truly a world-class coach and an even better individual. I look forward to teaching this method to my members and to whomever wants to learn the most accurate green reading technology in the world and soon YOU will be #MAKINGEVERYTHING. I look forward to seeing you on the putting green at Carmel Country Club.
I spoke to the large group of insurance business people the other day on the topic of personal development. My speech closed with a quote from one of my favorite people, Mr. Zig Ziglar.It states “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. Today, I was talking to a hungry, young driven golf professional that was seeking my advice on how to become a great teacher. First off I was flattered, second of all I was mindful to give him advice that I wish I would have gotten when I was new in the business. Gathering and sharing information and experience is something that i have enjoyed doing when I felt like I had something to offer someone who could improve their knowledge or outlook on the coaching business. So before I tell you what I told the young man, I posed this question on twitter. The pool of outstanding coaches that I have on my twitter feed is something that I can’t put a price on and will never take for granted. Tonight I was the student and they were the mentors and just set back let the magic of social media run its course. My friends did not disappoint as they never do. The question was,” In 140 characters or less, what advise would you give a young coach?” So here is a culmination of the answers that they came up with. So new coaches, take note and pay attention: I will use their twitter handles so you can follow.
@golfgurutv My advice: Don’t latch onto others 2 reach your goals. It’s not who U know, its the hard work U do that creates success
In my opinion, the great coaches always have a student mentality and are willing to share with others their experiences and knowledge because they understand the big picture. The problem with the golf business is that we don’t want to share best practices because we are afraid or insecure in our future. We think that if we assist others that they will take our piece of the pie. Let me give you a secret, the pie is very big and we havent even bitten off a nibble. There are so many golfers who are afraid of taking lessons because of all of the bad golf lesson experiences that continue to be given because of coaches who aren’t prepared to guide the student in the right direction. IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. It is us, the ones who are the caretakers of the game who need to make it our mission to reach out and share in order to improve the over all quality of the golf instruction business. Okay, Okay, I will get off of my soapbox and get to what my advice was to a young up and coming coach. It has all been said but this is what i think:
1. Find an experienced coach to guide you in the right direction (mentor)
2. Learn why the ball does what it does (D Plane)
3. develop your people skills first and then learn to teach. I see so many that have the info but cant communicate it to the average golfer
4. develop a servant attitude toward your students and learn to build relationships
5. If your student doesn’t get better, it should bother you. Figure it out! Ask for help and don’t be too proud
6.Teach as much as you can (even if it for free) to sharpen your eye. Nothing can replace experience on the lesson tee.
7. Learn all the different theories, methods..do your research and develop your way
8. Get around as many great teachers as possible and don’t be afraid to ask why?
9. get out of the box and learn from coaches in other sports and how they apply to golf
10. Stay humble and stay Nervous!
BTW: Twitter was on fire today. If you are not using twitter, then what are you waiting for…..the info is there!
Please share with any of the buttons at the bottom and your comments are always welcome!
I was recently asked by a friend of mine and fellow teaching professional of mine about what I thought of Tigers swing changes. This seems to be a hot topic in teaching circles since the sudden drop off of Tigers performance in the last year or so. Since the personal scandal that he has gone through, he has changed coaches (Haney to Foley) and now caddies (Williams to LaCava). I have set back and listened to everyone’s opinion on the situation and now I want to give you my two cents. As I understand the possibility of criticism from colleagues, peers and plenty of coaches that are way smarter than myself……I can take it! See as everyone focuses on Tigers swing changes which are vitally important and I will comment on, I want to bring another spin on things from a coaching perspective which is…..What does the student or in this case, Tiger….want from a ball flight perspective and from a past history angle. So here goes: I have posted 2 swings. 1 from 2008 and the other from this year to allow you to see the changes that Tiger and Sean have made.
1) The most obvious difference is the hand and arm plane in the takeaway. He is noticeably more inside with his hand and lead arm with the club more upright. In 08 his hands drifted away from his body with more forearm rotation with the shaft flatter at halfway back. As a coach I prefer this move as I spend alot of time fixing rollers and spinners of the shaft and club face.
2) the second change is with his arm plane/shoulder plane at the top and body pivot. Old Tiger had a flatter shoulder plane, higher arm plane and allowed his head to move behind the ball. The new changes are completely opposite. His shoulder plane is steeper, left arm is lower and head stays more steady at the top which from a coaching standpoint all matchup or what I call cancel each other out…..hope that makes sense.
The Good Part
As coaches, it is our job to work towards the goals of the students that we are working with. We all know that Tigers goals is to win majors, this is not what I am talking about. I am talking about connecting with and understanding the students needs. When working with a player I want to find out there tendencies or their big miss and work towards a pattern that avoids this miss. The question is did Foley really look at the swing characteristics and shot patterns that worked for Tiger in the past or is he so blinded by the philosophy that he thinks is superior or pattern of development that is the most efficient that he is not listening to his student. I don’t know the answer. Tiger is a very intelligent man and you would think that he would question every change for explanation why? Maybe Sean Foley is the greatest salesman in the world and has a logical explanation for the changes and has sold arguably the greatest golfer in the world that THIS is the way to go…. and that is great. It seems to me that Tiger is doing exactly what Foley wants in his swing changes but obviously they arent producing the results. Is it too early, I don’t know. Only time will tell. Personally, I think estetically his swing looks great as I love the way the stack and tilt hybrid looks to the eye. This is what Mac O’Grady and the M.O.R.A.D. boys would call very SEXY with the CP release that is low and around (and I totally agree. I would totally date that girl)……….:)
What I Would Do
but the facts are: Tiger has always been too shallow on the downswing which lowering his left arm and moving more weight forward would seem to accentuate which makes no sense to me. He always seemed to play better with a higher left arm (which I know doesn’t fit the pattern) but its true. This kept the club more in front of him and on plane and also taller through the strike. So the question remains.” Has the student been left out of the process?” I hope not because as a big TDub fan, golf needs him to make a comeback and I would love to see it. I hope that team Tiger proves me wrong as if anyone could make it work, its Tiger. Remember, teaching is a moving target and it is our job as coaches and ambassadors of the game to figure out what our students need. If there was one way to move the club, they would all look the same……..And even the average bystander could tell that this isn’t the case. Comments are always welcome.
Guru …..I do teach non-members. To schedule a lesson, simply call the golf shop @704-945-3300 or the learning center directly @704-688-9201. If you have my cell number, you know what to do!
p.s. made it through my first week and loving my new gig. There are great things to come!
I posted a question on twitter last night. “What are a couple of golf books that influenced your life or career,” The response was overwhelming! I appreciate everyone sharing their personal favorites with me and my followers so as promised I will share them with you all. Reading has always been a big part of my life and has helped me gain knowledge in coaching golf but also has influenced the way I live my life. I am not even including the many hours of lectures on CD that I used to listen to in the car on my way to and from work. Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, Wayne Dyer, Steven Covington, John Maxwell and the list goes on. As Jim Rohn (my personal favorite, may he RIP) says,” There is a reason that all houses valued over 200,000 dollars have a library in it. Now we can buy books on our ipads and nooks but this is the future of learning. My point is, yes Guru get to the point please! If you read or learn something new in your business or in your life, I want you to do 3 things. 1. STUDY 2. PRACTICE 3. TEACH. Study– Make sure you know it so you can become the expert. Practice – Put it into action as hone our skills. Fail and try again until you get it right. Teach – (most important) Share your knowledge with someone else. You know I have a story: Years ago I found in my possession some VHS tapes (that’s how long ago) of Martin Hall giving lessons. I learned so much from these tapes as I watched them over and over and could probably recite the language that he used (without the accent) and it helped me as a teacher. I met Mr. Hall at a top 100 dinner soon after and thanked him for his knowledge and sharing. He quickly responded with,”Now it is your turn to share it with someone else,” I never forgot that. So As requested: Here is our twitter golf book list from you my friends. Start your library today: Make sure you read on for my selections at the bottom…………
Quantum Golf
Seven Days in Utopia – David Cooke *
The Pursuit Of Excellence
Learn To Win
Practical Golf – Jacobs
Extraordinary Golf – Shoemaker
Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect – Rotella
Every Shot Has A Purpose – Nillson and Marriott
The Inner Game Of Golf – Gallaway
Bud, Sweat and Tees
The Golfing Machine – Kelly **
Dogged Victims of inexorable Fate – Jenkins
The Match
The Golf Swing – Leadbetter
Hogans Five Lessons
Down the Fairway – Jones
Attention and the Focused Mind – Gallagher
Zen Golf and Zen Putting – Parent
Perfectly Balanced Golf – Cook ***
Strokes of Genius – Boswell
Massacre at Wingfoot
The Stack and Tilt Golf Swing – Bennett and Plummer **
Golf My Way – Nicklaus
The Mystery of Golf – Haultain
Winning Is A Choice
The Hershey Hurricane – Tim Ryan
Tommy’s Honour
The Impact Zone – Clampett
*means they are on my list
Here are my additions: Swings Secrets and Lies: Six Timeless Lessons by Hebron, The 30 Second Golf Swing by Tomassi, On Learning Golf by Percy Boomer, Flick on Golf by Jim Flick, Golf the Torrence Way
I hope you enjoyed the list and now start your journey to S, P, T
to my golf pro friends through my social media connections. Whether it is one of the many groups that I am in on Facebook or my favorite way to exchange ideas,Twitter.com. So I was curious about what everyone thought about FOOT FLARE or the positioning of the feet at address and how it impacted a golfers swing. As I write this post I will tell you that I don’t have all the answers but experience and reasearch have their place because I can tell you what has worked for me as I will give you my opinion on this subject and give you some options that might help. But I want to share with you first what my colleagues answered when I posed the question: How much foot flare (with both feet) do you teach and feel is important and why? Here is what I got:
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The Golf Guru Show 