T.J. Valentine's Golf Blog

Introducing 8 Under Par

2008-02-28T17:02:00.003-05:00

So you may have noticed the logo to the right. I am happy to announce the creation of 8 Under Par logo brand. It has been in the works since 2004 with many ups and downs and finally we have something that we are extremely proud of to introduce as our own. 8 Under Par logo brand was created to reflect everything related to hard work, goals, dreams and dedication in ones own life. We came up with the tag line "Approach with Desire" which we feel how everyone should go about their daily lives. Take a few minutes to look through the site and let us know what you think. We have many more designs that are in the works including clothing, t shirts, belts and much more. If you like what you see please support the initial push of this great product.

We are also currently open to specialty stores and golf shops carrying the line. It is currently featured in a couple of small golf shops including Golf Etc. Please contact me for more information.

www.8underpar.com

Great Golf Fitness Book

2008-02-24T11:10:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone is getting excited for a new golf season. I know I am. One of the topics I cover in my teachings is physical fitness as it relates to the game of golf. The percentage of PGA Tour players putting fitness on the top of their routines has increased tremendously over the past 10 years. And the benefits are very obvious, not only on tour but with everyday golfers. I recently was speaking to a group of weekend warriors from Florida and the topic of golf fitness programs came up and where to find the best information regarding this topic. Now I have been through a couple of fitness seminars the past 10 years and do have a lot of books in my library on the subject but I am always looking for new ones. I found a very good ebook on the subject and highly recommend it. Its called Golf Fitness Experts and you can check it out here. I bought the book after reading through some reviews on it. I would say it is well worth the money. My two favorite chapters are Velocity Training (works on clubhead speed) and Plan the work, work the plan (keeps you motivated)
If you are looking for a new way to look at golf fitness, this ebook is a must. It has a lot of videos and tons of pictures. Make 08 the strongest of your career!

The Death of a Golf Course

2008-02-07T19:35:00.001-05:00

Well, I recently got back from a two week trip to one of my favorite places in the world...Walt Disney World. Even though I have read for months about the closing of Disney's Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines courses it could not prepare me for what I saw. The wheels are in motion to convert the two courses into a Four Seasons Resort and even though Osprey is still open (still in great shape I might add) Eagle Pines is now a sad vacant course. You see Eagle Pines was one of the very first 18 hole golf courses that I ever played as a kid and make a point of it to play every year. All that is left as of now are fairways of weeds and brown areas which were once greens. I had to sneak on the course via the 5th hole to take a look for myself. It is a very sad sight to see a golf course just left to die. I am sure many of you share these same thoughts. I did get to play Osprey Ridge for one last time before they eventually close that and convert the property to the one 18 hole track. It is just a sign of the times...

Robin Williams on golf (funny stuff)

2008-01-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

I remember watching this for the first time years ago. Robin Williams has always been one of my favorite actors/comedians. Check it out. (does contain some bad words!)

Tommy 'Two Gloves' Gainey ready for PGA tour

2008-01-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

It is great to see a friend succeed. I Wish Gloves all the best this year on the PGA Tour. Makes us all work just a bit harder.

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- He's built water heaters and installed anodes for $9.15 an hour. He's got a swing -- and a Southern drawl -- that had European competitors on The Golf Channel's "Big Break IV" chuckling. And he's ready for somebody, perhaps even himself, to stand up to Tiger Woods' dominance.

Gainey held on at Q-School despite a shaky sixth round. (WireImage)PGA TOUR, get ready for Tommy Gainey.

"I'm just a good ol' Southern boy, country as it gets," Gainey said. "I earned everything I've gotten."

The 32-year-old Gainey's down-home, straightforward approach has earned him the admiration of viewers from two "Big Break" appearances and, after seven tries, a PGA TOUR card.

Gainey tied for 19th at Q-school last month for his exemption. He expects to tee it up at the Sony Open in Hawaii next week.

"I guess I'll be nervous," Gainey said recently. "But I'm not going to worry."

That's pretty much how Gainey has led his life so far.

He was a rising baseball player at Bishopville High when someone suggested he try golf. The 15-year-old was immediately hooked. He taught himself the game through playing, keeping his odd, 10-fingered baseball grip and continuing to wear gloves -- hence, the nickname "Two Gloves" -- on both hands.

Gainey hoped to play college golf, but was too inconsistent to attract attention. He went to Central Carolina Technical College and earned an industrial maintenance certificate.

"It involved a lot of valves," he recalled.

Video: Gainey in action at the 2007 Cox Classic
He caught on at the A.O. Smith Co.'s engineering lab, testing water heaters and moved on to a job at the plant's assembly line wrapping insulation because it paid more. Then came another step up, installing electrical parts. Golf was left to after work in the summer or weekend rounds with buddies.

"Living in the moment, that's about all I was doing," Gainey said.

Says Chip Chamberlin, general manager of the Hartsville Country Club where Gainey practices, "There are a lot of stories out there, but few like Tommy's."

In 1997, Gainey's friend, Cliff Wilson, bankrolled most of the $750 entrance fee to a TearDrop Tour event in Columbia. Gainey wound up winning his first pro start and $15,000. When he called to thank his friend, Wilson told Gainey he didn't want any winnings, just for "Two Gloves" to give golf a full-time try.

Gainey finished T8 in the Cox Classic Presented by Chevrolet after posting four rounds in the 60s. (WireImage)Gainey struggled for two years, chasing a career on mini-tours throughout the Southeast. When his parents were dealing with health problems, Gainey knew it was time to return to Bishopville.

He moved furniture until an opening came through at A.O. Smith that got him back at the plant. Golf was as far from his plans as it could be, Gainey said.

His life plan changed for good in late 2002. Friends pooled enough money for Gainey to play a Gateway Tour event in Myrtle Beach. He lost the title on the first playoff hole, but left thinking, "I can play with these guys."

His entrance to The GOLF Channel's reality competition came after he played in Monday After The Masters, an annual charity gathering put on by noted golf dudes Hootie and the Blowfish. Gainey's manager, Paul Graham, used to manage the band during its mid-1990s hit-making heyday.

Soon after, Gainey was part of the fourth installment of the "Big Break" and billed as a "small-town golfer hailing from small-town USA."

That "Big Break" featured a team is U.S. golfers against a group of Europeans at historic St. Andrews' in Scotland.

Gainey, with his baseball grip and unusual swing, looked like an easy mark to some of the classically trained players.

"When they saw him with the swing, the two gloves, there was a little bit of laughing," said Dan Higgins, the GOLF Channel spokesman who was at St. Andrews with Gainey.

Then they saw Gainey's long drives and accurate irons.

BY THE NUMBERS
$21,515 Gainey's Nationwide Tour earnings in four starts in 2007
2 Gainey's cuts made in four Nationwide Tour starts in 2007
Gainey loved the experience, and his demeanor and game were transformed by the pressure that comes from having each shot dissected on TV.

He says those lessons helped him get through second-stage qualifying when he struggled down the stretch. He needed birdies on his final two holes to guarantee his first trip to the final stage and got them. "It was one of my proudest moments," he said.

But it's Gainey's sincerity and forthrightness that endeared him to "Big Break" fans. Higgins said his appeal was a big reason Gainey was invited back for the show's reunion edition, a competition Gainey won.

Higgins admits he didn't see a PGA TOUR player when Gainey first showed up. But after the competition, "I, at least personally, saw a transformation," Higgins said. "He began picking things up and taking things seriously."

So seriously, Gainey sounds like he's ready to challenge the game's best right away. If he gets the chance, he said he'll do his best to beat the best in the world.

"I've got nothing against Tiger Woods," Gainey said, sitting in his golf cart. "But I'm tired of Tiger winning every tournament."

Gainey shrugs off those who knock his swing, which has a flatter takeaway than most. The important thing, say Gainey and PGA member Chamberlin, is that Gainey's back on plane when it's time to strike the ball.

If you think Gainey will change should he have tour success, forget it.

He'll keep his recently purchased home in Camden, no matter his fortunes, to stay near his family. He'd rather practice by playing a round than spend his time on the range. If Gainey's swing goes sideway, he'll call up younger brother Allen for advice. "No one knows my game better than him," he said.

Ask a question and Gainey will give a straight answer.

"No matter what happens, I'll never change," Gainey says. "I was raised to respect others and treat others the way I want to be treated. Tommy Gainey is a good ol' country boy who likes everybody."

To a handicap lowering 2008!

2008-01-01T00:09:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to say Happy New Year to all my friends in the golf world. Commit yourself to reaching your personal goals in 2008 and get yourself on a golf improvement program. My 2008 programs will be announced soon with lots of surprises!!

Course Management...from your couch

2007-12-31T19:45:00.000-05:00

So the new year is almost here. Your thoughts for a better golf game in 2008 are also filling you heads and new goals are being set. Better course management is a huge piece of the game improvement pie. Golfers rarely get to practice the course management aspect of the game because for the most part when you are on the course you just want to play. A simple yet VERY effective way to make productive use out of your winter couch time is to play the visualization game. The drill goes as follows: First make sure you are in a quiet setting. (no tv, radio or ipod that you got for christmas) Close your eyes and imagine that you are playing on your favorite course. The course that you know front to back and back to front. Imagine you are on the first tee. Slowly go through your club selection, your pre-shot routing, picking out your target, checking the wind etc. Make your swing and walk to the ball. Hopefully you imagined a great shot but if you didn't go into the woods and get ready to play your next shot. Repeat this routine until you hole out. This drill helps with your focus, your shot selection AND it when its cold out keeps your mind on your golf game. This gives you the time to work on different scenarios on the golf course, yes its just in your mind but the more you can repeat positive thoughts the better you are...

Winter Improvement #1 Indoor Putting Drill

2007-12-16T14:05:00.000-05:00

Well the snow is flying in many parts of the country and all of that white stuff makes it difficult to maintain or improve your game. Over the next few weeks I am going to be posting tips, thoughts and ideas on how to keep your game in shape during these long winter months.

It goes without saying that putting is one of, if not the most important aspect of this game. Good putting makes a good player a great player. It is also the most under practiced aspect of the game. One of the reasons why it is the most under practiced aspect is the fact that most golfers just do not know what to practice. Throughout my 7 years as a golf professional I have worked with hundreds of golfers on their putting game. The most consistent basic problem that I witness is the premature movement of the head and eyes. When a golfer moves their head and eyes too early, their shoulders and hips open. This leads to very inconsistent contact on the putter face and pushes and pulls occur. The bottom line is you must keep your head and eyes still over the ball well after contact has been made. This will keep your body from opening thus keeping your putter face on a square and consistent plane during your stroke.

You can work on this all winter long using this simple yet effective drill. Take a coin and place a ball on top. Take a stroke and without following the ball with your head keep your eyes focused on the coin. If you repeat this drill this winter it will train to eyes to stay down which will keep your head still and your body from opening up. Less movement equals more consistent contact which equals more putts made. Sounds like a good equation to me!

2007-07-03T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hitting out of a
fairway bunker

GolfWRX.com Summer 2007 T Shirts Now Available!

2007-06-11T21:23:00.000-05:00

They are finally here. The Summer 2007 GolfWRX.com T-Shirts are here. We made some minor changes for this version that everyone will love. These are available in very limited quantities. Please place order on the right side of this blog with "buy now" button. The price is $16.00 which includes shipping. All orders will be shipped within 48 hours of purchase. Shipping only in the United States. Please email or PM me for international prices. When you place your order please put your size in the NOTE section. Sizes are L and XL. Orders will be taken first come first serve. If we do sell out you will be notified.

Michelle Wie addresses Ginn Tribute withdrawal

2007-06-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

For those of you that did not get to hear or read this here you go. I am going to keep my comments on this topic simple. She played in a pro am yesterday and was fine, she had months to heal, 2 holes to finish last Thursday, agent on the phone with her parents and an 88 in the midst. I just want to see her play well and not become the next Todd Marinovich.

Michelle Wie addresses Ginn Tribute withdrawal, says wrist was 'tweaked'
From WorldGolf.com News Services,
Golf Publisher Syndications

Michelle Wie put up a monster number through the first 16 holes of the LPGA Tour's Ginn Tribute, before pulling out of the event, which is hosted by Annika Sorenstam, saying that she tweaked one of her wrists.

Related Links
More Pro Talk articles
Dot Wong: Wie withdraws from Ginn Tribute at +14
LPGA Tour news updates at WorldGolf.com
Blogger Leaderboard: Wie smacks down Leadbetter as golf bloggers enjoy the show
Wie had been sidelined since January with injuries in both wrists. It was unclear how she might have re-aggravated it.

She was 14-over-par through 16 holes. Her round included a 10 on the par-5 third and a triple bogey on the par-3 14th.

Despite the performance and the apparent re-injury, Wie says she is not ruling out competing in the McDonald's LPGA Championship next week. Wie spoke to reporters after her round.

Q: Are you optimistic from here on out once your wrist does heal?

MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, you know it felt good when was practicing but, you know, I kind of like tweaked it in the middle of round a little bit.

So just taking caution measures, and I know what to work on. The only way to go up from here is up, so I'm feeling pretty good about it.

Q. And it was the wrist injury, the wrist injury and is what forced the WD?

MICHELLE WIE: Yes.

Q. Is it too early to determine what your immediate future is as far as next week, the LPGA and then the Open?

MICHELLE WIE: Well, I'm definitely going take it into account and think did about it. The last thing I want to do is not play next week. I'm really excited to get back into the game and play in tournaments again.

I'm going reanalyze it and kind of try to be smart about it. But I definitely want to play next week. I definitely know what to work on, so I'm excited to get back into it and try to work on it.

Q. Your tee shots, some were missing to the left and some were missing to the right. What are you going to be working on? What was going wrong for you out there?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know, I think that when an injury is in the back of your mind, you're thinking, "Oh, this is going to hurt." The last thing you're thinking about is trying to hit the ball straight.

Just very unfortunate, but I definitely know what to work on. I don't really want to talk about it now because I haven't really thought about it. I'm definitely want to work on a lot of things, and it's definitely going to be better for next week.

Q. Could you tell us what happened on that Par 5 where you took the 10?

MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know, it's just very unfortunate hole. It kind of went right and then it hit a car, I think, and then kind of bounced back in. But unfortunately rolled down a drain so it was OB. So it was unfortunate. It was actually quite funny. I was going crawl down the drain and prove that it was in bounds, but I couldn't fit I into that drain so I couldn't do that. But unfortunately I kind of pulled my shot left and then it's all a blur. It's a bad hole, you know, and everyone has bad holes. I'm just going to work on it and get better.

Q. Can you talk about the Par 3, No. 14, where you hit it to the right, and just take us through that sequence of events. I know that your dad said something to you and then Janice Moody approached your father. I'm just wondering what all happened and what he said.

MICHELLE WIE: I don't know. It's a long way back. I hit the tee shot, it went right. I went back to the tee, hit it right again, took a drop, hit a shot, and made 2-putt and left. You know, I mean, there's really nothing else, I don't think, I mean...

Q. Just a follow-up. Can you talk about your decision - first you were going to declare an unplayable and then you changed your mind and decided to go back to the tee.

MICHELLE WIE: Well, that's one of the options. I had an option to take a two-club length or an option to go back to the tee, and I just felt like from there it was a really hard shot and I still feel comfortable with my tee shots so I decided to go back to the tee. But I definitely did take an unplayable there, and I felt like I did the right thing.

Q. Are you aware of the 88 rule, and did it have any affect - you were awfully close to shooting that 88 and being DQd for the rest of the year.

MICHELLE WIE: That's the farthest thing away from me thinking about it. I don't think about shooting 88. That's not what I do. I try to play the best golf I can, and unfortunately I was not able to do that because I had issues with my wrist. You know, shooting 88 is not what I think about, and from now on I'm going think about hitting fairways and hitting good shots and having fun out there.

Transcripts provided by ASAP Sports

May 31, 2007

TaylorMade TP Rescue review

2007-06-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of seasons I have found it hard to put down my Nickent rescue 2 iron. Just like many of you over the past 3 seasons I have replaced my longer irons with hybrids for the obvious reason that it is just a heck of a lot easier to hit from many different lies. The look of the new TaylorMade Rescue TP is a very clean simple look which is great at address. What I look for in a hybrid is ball flight control. Many hybrids are built to create a high draw ball flight which in my case can lead to a high hook. The new TaylorMade was created for the better player to lower and create a more penetrating ball flight. I noticed this difference right away in comparing it to my Nickent and Rescue Dual TP. The second factor was how easy it is to work right to left and especially left to right. I found this to be very easy to work both ways while staying away from the big dreaded hybrid hook that we all see from time to time. The size of the head was similiar to my Nickent which is more on the smaller side. The bottom line is, If you feel your hybrid ball flight is too high and you have a hard time with its workability this may be the hybrid for you. I also had a few of my students test it out. The better players absolutely loved it while the higher handicappers struggled with creating a good launch angle. Try it out for yourself at a TaylorMade demo day near you.

Adams Dixx Digital Training Putter

2007-05-21T19:40:00.001-05:00

Adams Dixx Digital Training Putter

The DiXX Putter is a computerized training system filled with the latest technologies that can identify impact position and track the player's swing path, face angle, tempo and speed balance.
Utilizing a micro Inertial Navigation System (INS), the DiXX Putter can identify the putter face position in relation to the ball at impact and display the information immediately on the vibrant color LCD. Additionally, a Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) monitors several key factors of the swing motion, including path, tempo, speed and hand vibration levels.
All of the information can be collected into usable data (personal statistics) that can be analyzed to correct bad putting habits. The DiXX Putter includes the computer terminal that can be removed and replaced with a practice weight for recreational use. Not USGA approved.

DiXX Features:
Analyzes and tracks the 5 key factors of a successful putter swing: Path, Impact Position, Face Angle, Swing Tempo, and Speed Balance.
Includes Computer Terminal and interchangeable Practice Weight.
Available in lengths of 33", 34" and 35"
User can choose either straight-line putting path or arc path.

I took this information off of the Adams site. I am currently in the process of obtaining one of them for testing and review.

GolfWRX.com T-Shirts

2007-05-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

When the guys at GolfWRX.com came to me and asked if I would head the t-shirt job for them I said no problem. Man, I didn't realize how difficult just selecting the simple design would be. So after creating roughly 15 versions we agreed on a simple white version for the Summer 2007 run. We will create a new t-shirt for each season. Please support the greatest golf site on the web by ordering yours today. Expected ship date is the beginning of June. Purchase through buy it now button on right tool bar of the blog under the GolfWRX.com logo. The t-shirts are only $16.00 shipped to your door in the United States. Please contact me for international orders. Show your support!

Have these people ever played the game before?

2007-05-04T19:56:00.000-05:00

I never saw this article the first time it was published on espn.com in 2004. I click on golfdigest.com and on the home page this comes up. This is a ranking of the sports that demand the most from athletes. Just take a look at where golf is located on this list. Obviously the people that voted or whatever in this poll have absolutely no idea about the game of golf. I dont have to tell everyone out there reading this either and I am sure you will probably take offense to it as well. Can someone explain to me where these numbers came from as well?

(taken directly from GolfDigest.com)

Punch drunk: Table tennis is harder than golf?

Golf Digest
September 2004

In ESPN.com's ranking of the 60 sports that demand the most from athletes, golf (No. 51) barely rated higher than cheerleading (No. 52). The ranking identified 10 categories, or skills, that go into athleticism, and then eight experts were asked to assign a number from 1 to 10 to the demands each sport makes of those skills (10 being the most difficult). By totaling and averaging their responses, ESPN arrived at a degree-of-difficulty number for each sport.

1. Boxing (72.4)
2. Ice hockey (71.8)
3. Football (68.4)
4. Basketball (67.9)
5. Wrestling (63.5)
6. Martial arts (63.4)
7. Tennis (62.8)
8. Gymnastics (62.5)
9. Baseball (62.3)
10. Soccer (61.5)
11. Alpine skiing, water polo (60.6)
13. Rugby (60.5)
14. Lacrosse (60.4)
15. Steer wrestling (56.5)
16. Pole vault (55.9)
17. Field hockey, speed skating (54.9)
19. Figure skating (54.8)
20. Cycling, volleyball (54.4)
22. Racquetball (53.6)
23. Surfing (53.1)
24. Fencing (52.8)
25. Freestyle skiing (52.5)
26. Team handball (50.8)
27. Sprint cycling (50)
28. Bobsledding (49.3)
29. Ski jump (48.9)
30. Badminton, nordic skiing (48)
32. Auto racing (47.9)
33. High jump (47.8)
34. Long jump (47.4)
35. Diving (47)
36. Swimming (46.9)
37. Skateboarding (46.8)
38. Sprints (46.6)
39. Rowing (46.1)
40. Calf roping, distance run (46)
42. Bull riding (45.9)
43. Middle-distance running (45.5)
44. Weight lifting (45)
45. Sprint swim (44.1)
46. Water-skiing (44)
47. Table tennis (43)
48. Shot put (42.1)
49. Kayaking (42)
50. Horse racing (41.6)
51. Golf (37.9)
52. Cheerleading, roller skating (36.3)
54. Equestrian (31.8)

Are you losing power and distance in your swing?

2007-04-27T09:11:00.000-05:00

When I meet a student for the first time I make sure to set aside time to get into their "golf mind" before we actually begin a game improvement program. I learn about goals, struggles and triumphs among other topics that we will cover at a later date. I then ask one simple question. "What bothers you most about your game?" I want to bring the negative thoughts to the surface. Yes, I may sound a little like Dr. Phil but it is essential to game improvement to establish the physical and mental negative that not only takes your game in the wrong direction but also takes away confidence. One of the top mental struggles that golfers deal with is lack of distance. This negative is what drives the golf club, ball and training aid markets...everyone wants the magic remedy to get more distance. Now I am not going to get into what exact muscles create the speed and stength in the golf swing but what I will touch upon is where the average golfer looses power and control.

Take a look at the picture. We have a student of mine before his lesson at impact and we have PGA and Nationwide Tour player Grant Waite at impact. Notice the difference in the lower body at impact. The student on the left is swinging the club with all arms and no rotation of the lower body. This leads to lack of control, casting of the club and loss of a lot of power among othr things. Imagine Roger Clemens trying to throw a fastball with no lower body action. Imagine Tom Brady trying to throw a pass without any lower body action. No power and no control. The position that Grant is in at impact is what I call the "two cheek" position. It may sound silly but you can see both cheeks of his rear end at impact. This not only shows that he is using his lower body but it also shows that he is rotating through impact. Grant is optimizing his stored power. His upper body is working together with his lower body. If you feel that you are lacking your full power potential contact me or your local PGA Professional.

A fun game to pass the time

2007-04-26T19:24:00.000-05:00

Click to Play!

No it is not going to make you a better putter on the course. What it will do is pass the time when there isn't much else to do. After you play post your scores on here. I want to see how low you can go.

Congrats to Nick Watney 2007 Zurich Classic winner

2007-04-22T18:20:00.000-05:00

Nick Watney played his way into the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Championship but more importantly into the 2008 Masters with his 3 shot victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The 25 year old became the 4th player in his 20's to win on the PGA tour in 2007. Watney looked like someone not used to the top spot on Sunday as he bogeyed the 3rd and 4th holes before changes his day with an eagle 2 on the 5th hole. He never let go of the lead after that. Watney never finishing better than 5th in his PGA career until today. I want to congratulate Eric Jones for winning this weeks contest. He picked up the Accuflex Icon F/H shaft with his selection of Bubba Watson and Sean O'hair. Watson finished T-5th and picked up $222,650 while Sean O'hair made $103,700 with a T-15th finish. My picks of Toms and Calcavecchia finished a respectable T-44th and T-5th respectively. Thanks for everyone that participated and keep checking back for more PGA Tour contests. (picture taken from PGATour.com badz/wireimage)

PGA TOUR Zurich Classic of New Orleans CONTEST win an Accuflex Icon FH shaft

2007-04-17T15:01:00.000-05:00

This week the PGA Tour makes its way to a revived New Orleans for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Once again I am offering the winner of this contest a pretty cool prize. This week pick two players. The person selecting the two golfers that total the highest prize money for the week will win an Accuflex Icon FH fairway/hybrid X flex shaft. Check out Accuflex.com for more info. If there is a tie, a random drawing will take place. My personal picks, yeah I can't win, David Toms and Mark Calcavecchia. Toms has been playing ok this year but being home and with a huge LSU fan base around him he will make a run at the title. Calc has been playing extremely well as of late and has a history of success at this event (tie for 25th last year). Post your picks below in the comment section for your chance to win.

Back to the Basics...Putting 101

2007-04-12T18:44:00.000-05:00

If you know my teaching philosophy or have taken a putting lesson from me before you probably have heard me say this a hundred times. Putting is an art form and not a science... BUT there are a few technical aspects of the putting stroke that all great putters have in common. When I say putting is an art form and not a science I am talking about the fact there is no one "correct" way to putt. Just like the greatest artists of the world di Vinci, Van Gogh, Warhol, Michelangelo etc. had their own styles to produce a masterpiece so do the greatest golfers of the world when it comes to putting styles. BUT...you knew it was coming, you need to follow some basic rules to be a consistent roller of the rock.

Take a look at the picture of one of my students. Jeff has had a lot of struggles on the putting green. He came to me bothered by the fact that he is so inconsistent on the green he has no idea whether the putt will miss left, right, short or long. He explained to me that his actual stroke always feels similar but his contact with the ball is all over the map. After a minute or so watching Jeff putt to a target it was very evident where his inconsistencies were coming from. Take a look at the picture of Jeff at address and through impact. The first change we made was ball position. His ball position was too far back in his set up to a point where at impact the putter was still travelling down at the ball. A good thought is to keep the ball under your left eye (as a RH). This is put the ball in a better position for the natural stroke of the putter to catch the ball at the proper spot in the swing arc.

The second issue Jeff was dealing with was his active upper body through impact. In simple terms he was very quick to lift his chin and upper torso to watch the ball. Remember, you have no control over the ball once it leaves your putter (unless your Superman) so why watch it? When you follow the ball not only does your head move but you also pull your entire upper torso out of the putt. All of this leads to very inconsistent putter face contact and inevitably poor control.

If you find yourself struggling with this same problem here is a great drill for you. Put a quarter on the green then place your ball on top of the quarter. Take your normal stroke but instead of watching the ball after impact keep your focus on the quarter for at least 3 seconds. This will keep everything down through the entire putt which will lead to consistent contact with the center of the putter face. If you are still struggling on the putting green please contact me or your local PGA Professional.

T.J.

Zach Johnson...2007 Master Champion

2007-04-09T22:32:00.000-05:00

Zach Johnson shot a final round 69 to become the 2007 Masters Champion. Zach became the first Nationwide Tour player to win the Masters since the tour began in 1990. As everyone focused on Tigers charge, Zach made birdie on 16 and then made a great up and down on 18 to seal the deal. He proved he deserves to wear that green jacket. Congrats Zach. I also want to thank everyone that participated in the 2007 Masters Contest. I received over 84 entries yet not one person selected Zack Johnson. Still wanting to give away the prize I selected the person that picked the closest to Zach's final score of +1 289. Congratulations to Mark Steele who did pick Tiger but with a score of -2 286 he picks up the golf balls by selecting the closest final score. *pgatour.com picture

Back to the Basics...Alignment 101

2007-04-05T15:40:00.000-05:00

Did you know that alignment is the #1 basic fundamental that all golfers, not just weekend players, struggle with from time to time. It is also the start to being a more consistent and accurate golfer. To check your current alignment, pick out a target and set up to the ball as if you are going to make a swing. Next just take the club out of your hands without changing your set up and lay the club on the ground against and parallel to your feet. Walk behind the ball and see if the club on the ground is parallel to your target line (imaginary straight line from ball to target). If it is not then you have a little work to do.

How do we get better at alignment? Believe it or not it starts with your pre-shot routine. Always start your pre-shot routine from behind the ball. This will give you the best perspective of the shot in front of you. When you are still behind the ball pick out an intermediate target about 1-2 feet in front of the ball on your target line. This intermediate target can be an old divot, discoloring or anything that you can easily see. Now walk into the shot and place the club behind the ball and square it to the intermediate target. Now take your set up with the rest of your body. To make sure you are lined up properly all you now have to do is look down. Your feet should be parallel to the golf ball and the intermediate target. The reason this works is because when you look down, the intermediate target, your golf ball and your feet are all in the same field of vision making it easy to make corrections. Spend at least 10 minutes during your practice sessions working on routine and alignment. Just remember, proper alignment equals better consistency and accuracy.

Pictured is a student of mine who recently made huge strides with his alignment. Yes, he does have more work to do but in just 20 minutes a new routine was started and better alignment was produced. If you have any questions on this topic or any other topics related to the golf swing, please feel free to contact me or your local PGA Professional.

It's Masters Time CONTEST!!!!!

2007-03-29T20:01:00.000-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year...no it's not the holiday season it is Masters time. I am going to make this blog a bit more fun. Simply pick the winner of the first major and what his final score will be. You can either email me or post your guess. The winner will receive a dozen brand new TaylorMade TP Black golf balls. In the event of a tie a random drawing will take place. Thursday April 5 at 12 am is the deadline. For all your Masters information and action check out Masters.org. Masters.org is one of the coolest websites for the golf fan. Check out the video link to the practice range, some pretty great stuff there.

TaylorMade Burner TP Review

2007-03-25T09:38:00.000-05:00

Every year begins with the thoughts of shooting lower scores, hitting the ball longer and making a lot of birdies. It is also the time when we think about all the new goodies out there to "help" us achieve these goals. This year, with the help of golfers like you, my students and touring professionals I will be reviewing and testing a lot of golf products and posting thoughts on this blog.

During the past couple of weeks I have tested the two new drivers from TaylorMade, the r7 SuperQuad TP and the Burner TP. I am going to focus on the Burner TP this week. Two different shafts were tested on the same head. The stock Re Ax 65 Superfast Graphite Design X flex 45.5 inches long and an Accuflex Creation 65 X flex 45 inches long. The head was 9.5. Face angle was not measured but does look on the .5* - 1* open side. Golf ball used for testing TaylorMade TP Black. Tests were done without launch monitor data and were based on ball flight and aesthetics (sound and look).

The look of the head is a little different than TaylorMade drivers of the past. As you can see in the picture there are graphics on the top of the head. The graphics work as a great alignment aid and are they do not stand out as the coloring is a light gray. Some traditionalists may not like the appearance but in my opinion it's a positive. Anything to help with alignment is a great addition, plus your eyes should not be focused on the head of the club at address anyways. The head shape fits my eye as it is on the traditional side even at its 460 CC size. The headcover is a sock style and not the usual magnetic TP headcover.

As you know sound and feel are very closely related. If a club does not sound good to you it most likely will not feel good and visa versa. It is hard to describe sound in writing but this driver just plain sounds and feels powerful. The golf ball feels like it explodes off the clubface. That powerful feeling turns into confidence very quickly.

Ball flight comes from a few factors most of which are based on the golfers swing characteristics. Please take these ball flight characteristics with a grain of salt as they are based on two shafts and MY swing so results will vary from golfer to golfer. My typical or average ball flight is on the medium to high side with a slight draw. Temperature (50* and wind conditions (calm) were constant for both tests. The first test was done with the stock Superfast Graphite Design shaft. You have to remember that the shaft is a half in longer than standard which will add club head speed. The stock shaft felt very true to flex (x) as some stock shafts play weaker. (again this is a TP and the stock shafts are of the premium variety) My ball flight was a little higher than average. Spin rate seemed to be pretty close to optimal as the ball did not balloon or drop out of the sky at all. I hit a few on the toe and the heel of the club to test the MOI and did not see much loss of distance as well as control. I then tried to work the ball left to right and right to left and found it to be controllable but on the other hand it was not easy to hit a big cut or a big draw. (this is possibly due to the very high MOI technology of the design) So if you want a driver that reduces your "big misses" this could be the one for you. Distance was based on comparing it to my "old" TaylorMade 425 r7 TP. It was definitely a little longer than the 425 r7 TP (could be due to the longer shaft) but it was really more forgiving on mishits.

The test done with the Accuflex Creation produced a better ball flight for me as it was more of a medium to high flight. The spin rate seemed to be pretty close to the Superfast Graphite Design as the ball did not balloon or drop to early. The mis hits were consistent with the stock shaft as was the ability to move the ball. I found the biggest difference to be the distance. Because of the better ball flight it seemed to be a little longer overall. (turf conditions were the same during both tests.

These opinions are strictly my own. As I stated before you may have different results as there are many factors that influence ball flight characteristics. I do believe that most people would not be disappointed with the stock shaft. This driver will certainly find time in my bag this year. The driver retails for $399. For more information check out the TaylorMade website. Check back weekly for more news, instruction and reviews.

T.J.

What is the "helicopter"??

2007-03-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Spring is officially here! My 7th season at Pinehills Golf Club is also here and so does another great year for the millions of golfers in this world. As you dust off your clubs this spring make sure you take an extra look at your grips. Did you know that grips that are worn and slick even a little bit will add strokes to your score. Why is this true you ask? Well, I will give you a very simple answer. The more slick and worn your grips are the tighter to hold on to them so you don’t helicopter* one off of your playing partners head. (* helicopter…a golf club flying out of a golfers hands for one of three reasons. 1. it slipped 2. you are working on your release with the club throwing drill 3. you just shanked your third ball in a row. For those of you that I have given the club throwing drill, by the way also fun at parties, slick grips are ok just don’t do it in the house.) The tighter you hold onto the club, the more tension you create in your body. Tension is a very, very bad word in a golf instructor’s vocab. Tension makes it very difficult to have a repeatable swing which leads to poor ball contact and higher scores. Bottom line…if your grips are worn and slick, go see your pro and he or she will get you into a new set of grips that are right for you. For those of you keeping score at home, I have re-gripped my clubs with Golf Pride DD2 grips. These grips not only look cool they also have a great feel to them. If you have any questions please feel free to comment or send me an email. Hit it straight but if you don’t go find it anyways and hit it again.

Pinehills Golf Academy 2007 UPDATE

2007-03-14T19:19:00.000-05:00

The updated 2007 Pinehills Golf Academy schedule and program list will be posted within the next week or so. You will be able to register for schools and private lesson programs beginning March 21st. Our phone system is currently being updated and I will post my new extension as soon as it becomes available. I look forward to working with all of my current students as well as the many new students that have contacted me over the off season.

Welcome...

2007-03-14T17:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my golf blog. Each week I will be posting my thoughts on things that are going on in the world of golf, instructional tips, insider information and equipment reviews. My background as a club professional, playing professional, television personality and certified “crazy golf nerd” provides plenty of reasons to check back each week to read, learn and comment.
Well it is March in the northeast which means spring is just around the corner and it is time for you to dust off the sticks and get ready for another great year. I’ll have to admit it is 60* out right now and I am off to go play.