Master Coach Certification

Augusta Golf Instruction is pleased to announce that B. J. Hathaway has completed all course work to earn the Masters diploma in Sports NLP & Hypnotherapy and become the first Mind Factor Certified Master Coach in the United States.

The Mind Factor, led by Dr. Karl Morris, works with many of Europe's top golfers including world #1 Lee Westwood.

Keep Your Left Wrist Flat

Written Swing Tips

Hank Haney discusses the importance of a flat leading wrist in the golf swing.
B.J. Hathaway, Hank Haney Certified Pro.

Consistent Golf

by: B. J. Hathaway











One of the top five requests that I hear from golfers is the desire to be more consistent. This is usually followed up by me with the question, "more consistent at what exactly"? Sometimes the answers are clear but sometimes the response is a vague:

"Well I don't know, just more consistent!"

To be consistent means to be free from variation. If I asked you to hit 5 wedges shots would I see five different ball positions, grip variations, alignments, postures, etc.? For some of you the answer is yes!

One of the quickest ways to find more consistency is to create a repeatable set-up procedure with grip, ball position, posture and alignment.

Remember, to be consistent you have to do the same thing every time!

I would like to challenge you as a golfer to develop clear ideas of what needs improvement in
your golf game, then get with your teaching pro and develop a definite game plan for bringing consistency to your game.

www.augustagolfinstruction.com

Tiger Woods secret to controlling the Mind

For more information on how to improve your game using simple yet highly effective mental game tools, contact B. J. Hathaway: Mind Factor Certified Coach

706.836.4330
bj@augustagolfinstruction.com

Divots

Golf Channel Instructor Search: B. J. Hathaway- Augusta, GA

Mental Coaching Certification

Augusta Golf Instruction is pleased to announce that B. J. Hathaway has completed all course work to earn the Diploma in Sports NLP & Hypnotherapy and become the first Mind Factor Certified Coach in the United States.

The Mind Factor, led by Dr. Karl Morris, has worked with many of the leading players on the European Tour such as:

• 2010 US Open Champion Graeme McDowell
• 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen
• Darren Clarke
• Lee Westwood
• David Howell
• Paul McGinley
• Trish Johnson
• Alison Nicholas and many more.

Business clients include Red Bull, Volvo, Barclays Wealth and Royal Bank of Scotland.

" I am excited about the opportunity to use the most advanced mental techniques in the game today, not only for myself as tools for personal growth, but for my students as well. Having correct technical skills will always be a primary focus, but the opportunity to manage your mind and emotions is absolutely critical for peak performance and the Mind Factor gives our students that extra competitive edge." B. J. Hathaway

For more information or to book your session please call our office at 706.836.4330 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 706.836.4330 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or click on the SmarterLessons link below.

Patriot Day Golf Tribute

Augusta Golf Instruction would like to show gratitude and honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 and recognize the men and women who continue to protect and serve our great country.

As our way of saying "thank you" to those who serve, AGI will be offering a free 10 minute video analysis session for all active duty military, fire and police personnel in the CSRA.

All video sessions will be done with B. J. Hathaway- Augusta's only Hank Haney Certified Professional.

Visual learning is one of the fastest ways to improve your performance, so if you've never seen your swing on video you will understand just how powerful this process is for game improvement.

To schedule your session just click on the link below, or call us at 706.836.4330

Event: September 11, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 8:00 p.m.
Location: 2133 Gordon Hwy.
Augusta, GA 30909




Your only cost for the session will be range balls, which will be discounted at $2.00 off the large basket as a uniform discount by Rolling Hills.

Beat your Scoring Plateau

By: B. J. Hathaway, G.S.E.B., M.C.I.

At some point almost every golfer reaches a stage where scores just don't seem to improve. Whether it's hitting balls or the occasional lesson, nothing helps and you find yourself stuck in a rut, frustrated and searching.

There may be several reasons, but let's look together and see if we can find some answers. Instead of looking for some magic swing key, let's analyze the big picture. When we really look at it, we will discover that there are four basic reasons why your game is stuck:

Swing mechanics, mental frame, physical capability, and equipment

1. Swing Mechanics:

Let's be honest, this is the area most of us get stuck at for one reason or another. Golf is a game of technical skill and coordination, yet most of you have never had a lesson. I don't know anyone would would buy a plane and jump in the cockpit and expect to fly and land successfully but- most people take that approach to golf. So having an understanding of the proper technique is critical, and then we have to be capable of performing. Make the investment in golf lessons from a qualified instructor and you will save yourself years of frustration on the golf course.

2. Mental Frame:

The golf course and competition bring on a new test every time you tee it up. Learning to control emotions and nerves are critical and that's why the Tour pro's study the mental aspects of the game and use sport psychologists. Most of us don't have Dr. Bob Rotella on speed-dial but that doesn't mean we don't have access to improvement in this area. I see a great deal of negative thinking on the golf course and yet we don't recognize how this impacts our game! If you expect to hit the ball out of bounds, guess what- you just made it very likely that your ball will go exactly there! Negative emotions like anxiety and anger can ruin even a technically sound swing, so make every effort to replace those thoughts with something positive.
I recommend you check out the Clear Key concept by Dr. Carey Mumford, or use the Internet or library to study this very key area of your game.

3. Physical Capability:

This is another key issue. Many of you try to emulate "positions" that you see on TV, but lack the strength or flexibility to make those positions profitable. If you can't make a John Daly back swing and yet you insist on trying, guess what, something is going to brake down in your technique and what have you gained? The answer is nothing! Flexibility, stamina and body control are key areas that most anyone can work on and improve. Do you get tired after 13 holes? Well guess what, your swing is going to break down because you're out of shape! As Tiger and the younger generation have proven, the physical side of the game is a key ingredient
Use a workout and flexibility program that is golf-specific and you can take strokes off your game without beating balls!

4. Equipment:

Here is the one area we like to spend money on! If every shoe store only sold a size 11, we would have a lot of folks with sore feet but we have no problem walking into a golf shop and buying a standard set of clubs and accepting the results. We assume that new $500 driver was made just for us. Well guess what- every club in your bag from putter to driver needs to have the correct lie angle, swing weight, grip size and shaft that suits your particular swing characteristics! I know what you are thinking: I'm not a Tour pro so whatever clubs I have are just fine. Well you are just plain wrong- the wrong shaft in the right head will never give you a consistent ball flight no matter how good your swing is! See a professional club fitter who has a launch monitor and let them fit your clubs to you because that big hook may just be your clubs and not you!!

Now you have the four keys to can help you lower your scores. For some of you the problem may be in all four areas but now you can develop a plan of attack. Golf is a wonderful game and there is no other sport like it, so do a little self-assessment and improve your technique, mental game, body and equipment and watch your scores improve!

Improve your game
www.augustagolfinstruction.com

The Golfing Machine wins at Hilton Head

AP Photo

by: B. J. Hathaway, G.S.E.B., M.C.I.

Brian Gay closed his Sunday round with a 64 yesterday and set a new tournament scoring record in his win at the Verizon Heritage. With a 10 shot margin of victory, he didn’t just beat the field- he lapped the field. It’s been since the ‘06 BellSouth Classic since we’ve seen a margin of victory of this proportion.

Surely he must have some secrets, some inside information into golf’s book of buried treasure? Well actually….he does. Two years ago Brian began his quest to unlock the secrets of golf’s most famous book, The Golfing Machine.

Inside the yellow hardback cover lies the true science of how and why the golf swing works based on two concepts: physics and geometry. Lest you be afraid of tall men in white lab coats with multiple clipboards….do not be afraid golfer! Yes my friend, the book is a bit of heavy reading and some of its concepts daunting. You see, the book was actually written as a guide for instructors- a golf encyclopedia if you will- that documents the components of mine, yours, and all golf swings. But this book is based on science- not theory, conjecture, guess work, old wives tales or riddles.

The secret of TGM is the flexibility it permits. There is not just one golf swing that will work and that explains why John Daly’s swing doesn’t look like Tiger’s who doesn’t look like Phil’s, etc. But what the book does help us understand is what my swing must do in order to be successful, and once you have that knowledge it gives you the freedom to build your swing around who you are.

The book is now in its 7th edition and you are welcome to pick up a copy and give it a test read. If however you find the material difficult, do not despair! The Golfing Machine has a worldwide network of Authorized Instructors who are extensively trained to help you improve your game and also the Medicus Golf Institute trains its certified instructors to teach TGM.

So congratulations to Georgia’s own Brian Gay, a professional golfer and true golfing machine.

www.augustagolfinstruction.com

Ball Flight Flaws?

By: B. J. Hathaway, G.S.E.B, M.C.I.


No doubt most of us have read or been taught the Ball Flight Laws. These are the seemingly scientific explanations for the 9 possible variations of travel that a golf ball can make through the air. You've all heard it before when you hit a ball that started left of target and been told that shot was a "pull" and therefore a swing path problem.

The conundrum for those of us who teach and study the physics and geometry of golf is that those ball flight "laws" don't agree with the 30 plus years of study that Homer Kelley put into every aspect of the golf swing which he detailed in his book, The Golfing Machine. For many years TGM has offered an explanation for ball flight behavior based on science. The problem was, nobody wanted to listen because they thought the book was too complicated and its readers "bizarre", and because certain organizations said "these are the ball flight laws and because this is what we say, that's the end of it."

Luckily, now we can find evidence that backs up science, and times - well they are a changing. According to TrackMan data, initial ball direction is determined by two factors, club path and face angle.

"According to the "old" ball flight laws, the initial direction of the ball is 100% dictated by the club path, All the scientific people in the golf industry know that this is very wrong"

Fredrick Tuxen, inventor of TrackMan

According to TrackMan's data, which uses the most advanced technology available, the initial direction of a golf ball is 85% caused by face angle and only 15% by path. This just solidifies what TGM has been saying for years, the ball generally leaves at a 90 degree angle to the face!

Now there are other factors that affect ball flight, such as near-center contact and gear effect which influences side spin, but for most of us the important information is this:

1. Learn to control the club face: phase I of directional control. You must also learn to control the shaft and the club head, but for now let's remember that the lead hand controls the club face. How we control the club face is done by hinge action, which dictates how much the face rotates through the impact zone. Last, but never least, the lead hand must always be flat at impact, no scooping or flipping the wrists!

Any TGM or Medicus Certified instructor can help you understand how to control these three swing elements because when you do, you will control the ball.... and then you will control your game!

AGI
Improve your game

B. J. Hathaway is a Medicus Certified Instructor and Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine