End of the Week Tip: Hit It Close and Make More Putts

Every Friday I will be posting some golf tips here on my blog. If you have any questions about your game, or can think of a good topic for future tips, send it to me in an email at tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com or leave a comment below.

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Hitting greens in regulation and making putts are constants among winners on the PGA Tour.  Obviously the goal is to get the ball in the hole to make more birdies.  So here are a few thoughts to increase your ability to make birdies by hitting more greens in regulation and sinking the putt:

·       Hit it close.  This one is obvious but many players have an unrealistic expectation for the putts they should make.  From a statistics point of view, any putt outside 8 feet is just as likely to miss as opposed to go in. When you get to 10 feet, more putts are missing than making.  Hitting 18 greens in regulation would be awesome, but if every birdie putt is 20 feet or more, chances are you’re going to miss a lot of putts, and not because you are bad putter.

·       Curve toward the target.  Learning to draw or fade the ball into your target certainly requires a lot of practice. Controlling your swing direction (aka swing path) along with the position of your clubface at impact will create side spin and curve on your shots.  If you find yourself curving the ball too much in one direction, try to intentionally curve the ball the opposite way by swinging in a different direction and changing the clubface position at impact.  A lesson me or another PGA professional will be the most efficient way to make these changes.

·       Discover your putting trends.  When rolling putts on the practice green take note of the putts you are missing.  If the ball keeps missing on the low side of the hole, be sure to play for more break on the course.  If your putts keep coming up short, make a conscious effort to get the ball past the hole.  By quickly identifying your trends, you can just as quickly adjust to increase your chances to make more putts.

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End of the Week Tip: Improving Contact on Full Swings

Every Friday I will be posting some golf tips here on my blog. If you have any questions about your game, or can think of a good topic for future tips, send it to me in an email at tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com or leave a comment below.

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Putting and short game may be the fastest way to take a few strokes off your game, but developing a consistent full swing to improve your ball striking can give you lasting results and more consistently lower scores.

One key ingredient that is required to be a good ball striker is the ability to hit the ball in the center of the clubface more often than not.  Here are some tips to help you find the sweet spot more often:

·       Fundamentals at address.  A good golf swing always starts with good fundamentals before the swing.  Grip, aim, stance, and posture are the main fundamentals to focus on before you swing.  If you are unsure about one or more of those fundamentals, find a PGA professional that teaches in your area or contact me and learn to start practicing those fundamentals the right way.

·       Start small.  Most players that miss the center of the clubface can be accused of over-swinging.  It’s easy to watch the club and how far it goes back, but more importantly you should note how far your upper and lower body turns in the backswing.  A great drill is to put your feet together to reduce lower body rotation and make swings focusing on hitting the center of the club face. This will make it easier for you to make contact in the center of the club face. You can then gradually add more lower body turn to increase swing speed.

·       Stay connected.  If your arms move away from your body during the swing it is difficult to hit the center of the clubface.  Take a small towel and place it under your left arm.  Using a short iron and a less than 50% swing, hit balls from a tee without dropping the towel.  By keeping the towel under your arm you should start finding it easier to hit the center of the club face. 

Practice Putting Like the Pros

Practice Putting Like the Pros

with Tyrus York, PGA

When: Saturday October 17th from 1:30-2:30 pm
Where: Keene Run Course of Keene Trace Golf Club (on the practice green)
Cost: $50 (space is limited to first 12 paid attendees)
 

Includes the EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror for each paid attendee! (Retail Value of $39.95)

The goal of this class is to learn effective practice strategies to make the most of the time you spend practicing your putting. I will demonstrate what some of the best putters on the PGA Tour do to prepare their putting for big rounds.

One of the most commonly used putting tools on Tour has been the EyeLine Golf Putting Alignment Mirror. All attendees will receive their own putting mirror included in their registration fee!

To sign up, email tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com, call or text me at 859-274-6558.

FREE Winter Coaching Seminar for Junior Golfers

Join me on Monday October 19th at 6 pm for a free Winter Coaching Seminar designed to help you learn more about the tools and methods I use to improve junior golfers in the winter months.

This FREE seminar is open to anyone that is interested in learning about the importance of winter training and what it takes to reach the next level of competitive golf. It is ideal for players that are new to the academy and would like to learn more about what we do before committing to a long term coaching plan.

I will give live demonstrations on how I use 3-D motion technology like K-Vest to evaluate and train my students. You will also see how I use Sam Putt Lab to evaluate and train putting ability.

Please RSVP by email, tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com

When: October 19th at 6 pm (seminar will last about 90 minutes)
Where: High Performance Golf Academy
Cost: FREE

For a list of my rates and coaching packages for this winter click here.

A Message to High School Golfers

For those of you playing high school golf in the state of Kentucky, the regional tournament has just concluded. You either find yourself making plans to play in next week's state tournament or your high school season has officially come to an end.

First of all, congratulations to the those that are state tournament bound! That is a huge accomplishment and is one of the tougher things to do in our sport. You have also extended your high school golf season by one week so I hope you make the most of it!

The rest of you are now faced with what to do next. For the seniors, hopefully you can continue playing competitive golf at the next level or at a minimum are excited to take whatever your next step in life may be.

The remainder of this message is for all underclassmen that may be looking to improve for next season.

You may not have made the state tournament, but this does not mean it is time to take "a break" from golf for a while. If you plan to be competitive it is in your best interest to get right back out there and continue to practice and play. 

The next several weeks will bring ideal golf weather in our state (although right now isn't the best, but still playable!). You will have plenty of time to take a break when December, January, and February roll around.

In most cases, the reason you're not going to the state tournament is because the players that made it are better than you. They're going to be practicing and playing for at least one more week so you might as well do the same so you don't fall farther behind!

Just because there are no more matches or high school tournaments, there are still tournaments coming up that are unaffiliated with high school golf. Check kygolf.org for local section events as well as the AJGA, Hurricane Tour, IJGT, and any other junior tours that continue to operate year round.

The last, and most important thing you need to do now that your season is over is settle on a coaching plan for the winter. There are numerous instructors out there that can help you achieve your goals. Golf is an extremely difficult sport and it is even more difficult to improve your game on your own.

Over the last 10 years I have had the opportunity to work with several middle and high school players that have worked hard and gone on to qualify for the state tournament. If you don't have a coach, be sure to check out my coaching plans for this year.

Remember that you can always get to work now and make 2016 your best golf year ever!!

It's Halftime for Summer 2015

They say time flies when you are having fun and that has certainly been the case at the High Performance Golf Academy this year! There has been so much activity with individual instruction, camps, and seminars that time seems to be going by very quickly.

The most notable event on our calendar is our next Junior Golf Camp. This camp will be held at the Champion Trace Course of Keene Trace Golf Club July 21-24. You can register for that camp by clicking here.

High School golf is almost here as well with practices and tryouts beginning for most teams around mid July. So hopefully all of you high school golfers out there are prepared for the upcoming season!

Stay tuned for more information, especially on our new relationship with the Golf Channel! In the meantime, check out our Golf Channel Academy page here.

I hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy the summer so far!

Spring Workshops With Andrew Rice

High Performance Golf Presents:

Teaching Seminars with Andrew Rice, Larry Ward, Tyrus York, Grover Justice, and Myra Blackwelder

"The truth about distance and ball flight - The Driver!"

and 

Cleveland Golf Short Game Schools

Friday May 29th

All sessions located at the High Performance Golf Academy at the Keene Run Course of Keene Trace Golf Club.

      
Session #1 - The Driver

• 1 - 3 PM: Group Instruction followed by Demo Day with Titleist, Callaway, Nike, Cleveland, and TaylorMade products. Cost: $50

   
Session #2 - The Driver

• 3:30 - 5:30 PM: Group Instruction followed by Demo Day with Titleist, Callaway, Nike, Cleveland, and TaylorMade products. Cost: $50

   
Session #3 - Cleveland Short Game School

• 5:30 - 7 PM: Cleveland Golf Short Game School taught by Grover Justice, Tyrus York, and guest Perry French. Cost: $150 (includes free Cleveland Wedge and 1 dozen Srixon golf balls)

Saturday May 30th 

      
Session #4 - The Driver

• 9 - 11 AM: The truth about distance and ball flight – The Driver! Taught by HP Golf Academy Staff w/ guest Andrew Rice. Cost: $50     

   
Session #5 - The Wedge

• 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM: The Wedge Project – “How the Pros hit the wedge…” Taught by HP Golf Academy Staff w/ guest Andrew Rice. Cost: $50

   
Session #6 - Cleveland Short Game School 

• 2:30PM to 5:30PM: Short Game School taught by HP Golf Academy and Andrew Rice.
  • Andrew Rice will do a 1-hour presentation on his latest findings.
  • Cost: $150 (includes Cleveland Wedge and 1 dozen Srixon golf balls)
  • Sponsor: Cleveland Srixon
  • Special offer: 1 lucky attendee will receive 1 free deluxe fitting at HP Golf Academy!

To sign up, text Larry Ward at (859)-321-3364 with the phrase "Sign me up with (session number)"
Space is limited. Sign up to ensure your spot.

Attitude and Putting (eBook Excerpt)

The following is an unedited excerpt from an eBook I am in the process of writing. My hope is to complete the project by this summer. Please leave your feedback in the comments below or contact me via email anytime. 

tyrus@hpgolfacademy.com

Why do people believe they can’t putt?

There are many reasons that may lead to a golfer believing they are bad at putting. The most obvious reason is they believe they don’t make enough putts.  We are going to discuss that more in the next chapter, but I’ll tell you now that there’s a good chance you are much better than you think you are.

Another reason people believe they can’t putt is because they think it is too difficult. How hard can putting really be? Again it depends on your expectations, but putting is (in my opinion) the easiest part of the game of golf.

PGA Champion Jason Dufner said it best at the 2015 PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit when he explained that he hates putting and why. He said he hates it because it’s so easy his mailman could do it! And you know what? He’s right!

Putting is extremely easy! All you’re expected to do is move your putter a grand total of a couple feet (unlike a the big, full swing of a drive or approach) and roll this little ball toward a hole that is approximately 4 times it’s size.

John C. Maxwell points out in his book The Difference Maker 4 big reasons why people in general are a part of the “can’t” group:

1.     Expecting failure

2.     Personalizing failure

3.     Refusing to take risks

4.     Letting failure defeat them

Bad putters are notorious for expecting to fail. They then personalize that failure by telling themselves they are bad putters.  By refusing to take risks like getting fit for the right putter and seeking professional instruction, bad putters remain in the “can’t” group.  And finally bad putters simply let bad putting rounds defeat them as they accept just how bad of a putter they really are.

Are you sick of hearing about how a bad attitude towards putting is dragging you down and preventing you from becoming the putter you want to be? Me too.

To be continued...

Get Golf Ready Adult Clinics

Click here to register!

What is Get Golf Ready?

Get Golf Ready is designed to teach everything you’ll need to play golf in just a few lessons. PGA Professionals will show you that there are lots of ways to play by combining fun, friends and fitness. Each session will focus on the various golf skills you will use while playing. In addition to learning the basics, you will be guided onto the golf course to put your skills into action in a casual, friendly setting.

What do you need to bring?

Just yourself, a desire to have fun and perhaps a few friends to enjoy the great outdoors. Golf Clubs, balls and other equipment will be provided for your use.  If you have your own clubs, you are encouraged to bring them so our instructors can determine if they will work for you.

Where are the lessons held?

Get Golf Ready Classes will be held at the Champion Trace Course of Keene Trace Golf Club.

Each session consists of 5 group classes.  The format for each class is listed below:

Class #1: Intro to Golf and Full Swing

Class #2: Driving

Class #3: Short Game

Class #4: Putting

Class #5: On course learning!

Schedule (3 Different Sessions)

 Session #1: Ladies only class is 11:00 am till 12:00 pm at the Keene Run Course of Keene Trace Golf Club. 

Session #2: Ladies only class 5:45 pm till 6:45 pm at the Champion Trace Course of Keene Trace Golf Club.

Session #3: Adult Mix class 7:00 pm till 8:00 pm at the Champion Trace Course of Keene Trace Golf Club.

Class #1 – April 23

Class #2 – April 30

Class #3 – May 7

Class #4 – May 14

Class #5 – May 21

All 5 classes for $100.

($30 for individual class)

Click here to register!

Sam Putt Lab Programs

Sam Putt Lab is the latest technology I've added to the High Performance Golf Academy and I am very excited to announce some brand new programs using this great putting tool.

You can visit the Online Store to view and purchase these programs and schedule your session using my online lesson book all through this website.

I am offerring 2 different programs for those of you just interested in Sam Putt Lab. 

• Sam Putt Lab Evaluation and Training (45 minutes)
• Sam Putt Lab Fitting (90 minutes)

The evaluation and training is designed for those that are happy with their current putter and simply want to learn more about what they need to do to improve.

The fitting is a detailed session designed to leave no stone unturned in our quest to find the perfect putter for you.

Both sessions will include a printed or emailed report of our findings.

If you are a currently participating in a Coaching Package please know that we can and will be using Sam Putt Lab as we see fit so there is no need to schedule a separate session.