The Right Equipment for Your Game

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

Medicus Golf Institute

I am not a club fitter, but in my group lessons there are always beginners with "starter sets" and those are just fine for the short term. But even if you never plan to compete you still need the right equipment to play your best golf. This game can be frustrating at times and one huge reason that people often overlook are the 14 clubs in their bag!

Now- let's be honest, you cannot buy a golf swing in the pro shop and having the most expensive set of golf clubs in the world will not lower your handicap- if they don't fit you or if you have terrible technique! If you were buying shoes, you would not go to a store that only sold size "x" but carried all the major brand names unless you just happened to wear that size, nor would you buy a pair that was three sizes too small but looked good because - after 5 minutes your feet would hurt!

The moral of the story -don't play golf with clubs that hurt your game. Here's what you need:

1. grips that fit your hands correctly and that are comfortable.

2. shafts that are the right flex- too stiff or too weak will cause direction problems.

3. club length that fits your height and arm length- clubs that are too short or long will again cause problems.

4. correct weighting- clubs that are too heavy or light will cause a multitude of problems.

5. correct lie angle which is the angle the club sets when you put it in the address position.

So if we look at all of these important factors, it is possible that you can have good technical skills and yet still not play the kind of golf you are capable of. Your options are to buy a custom-built set or take your existing clubs and have them fit to you. Be sure to go to a professional club fitter and check out their credentials first. Once you have your equipment squared away, then take some lessons from a qualified instructor.

Good equipment: $600

Golf lessons: $700

Hitting the ball where you want it to go: priceless.

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

The Rhythm of Golf

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


As golfers we are familiar with such terms as rhythm, timing and tempo but often times we are not exactly sure of their definitions. Let's get a feel for what rhythm really is and how it applies to the golf swing.

Rhythm (from Greek ῥυθμός - rhythmos, "any measured flow or movement, symmetry") is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds or other events.

As we see, it is measured, so there must be a count or beat. Listen to your heart beat and you will hear your own rhythm. When we are healthy it is constant, a dependable rhythm. Good golf has a rhythm too.

Poor rhythm is caused by quick, jerky motions at some point in the movement. Many players lose their timing in the transition phase of the swing; that terrible feeling of hitting from the top is just another name for lost rhythm. Quitting, or stopping at the ball is another cause of poor timing. One of the reasons I like students to use a heavy club such as the Medicus PowerMax is to give a feeling of constant motion without quitting with the thought of a smooth start-down and swinging into the finish position.

Rhythm is accomplished when the club and arms move at the same RPM. The angle formed between th club shaft and left forearm is the third power accumulator in The Golfing Machine and defines rhythm control when in its "in-line" condition. The pivot also must not interfere with the arms and hands but play a supporting role.

Ernie Els has a smooth rhythm while Nick Price is quite fast, but both have a rhythm that supports how they live, walk, talk and play.

The key is to find your rhythm and make sure your swing components help you achieve it more consistently!

Beat the Ball Position Blues

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


The correct ball position for golfers has always been a problem and part of the reason is this:

historical wisdom is not based on the geometry of the golf swing!

We've all heard it before, place the ball "here" in your stance for "this" club. Well that's all fine and good if you happen to carry a yardstick around the golf course, and your playing partners will allow you to take the time to measure your stance width, calculate the exact ball placement for that particular shot, remove the yardstick, waggle, look, waggle and swing. I have yet to see this happen and if you try it, you more than likely will not be invited back to play with your foursome!

The reason ball position should not, and cannot be related to stance width is because it does not provide a repeatable frame of reference. As you probably know, repeatability is the key to scoring in golf.

So let's find a better way. Why not use a reference based on something that does not change - like geometry. Luckily you will not need a slide rule and your old textbook. The hard work was done by Mr. Homer Kelley when he wrote the most comprehensive book ever written about the golf swing, The Golfing Machine.

The Golfing Machine is based on geometry and physics and how that applies to any and every golf swing. Since the golf swing is a circular motion, every circle has a low point in the arc. The low point in the arc of your golf swing is your left shoulder. Now we have a steady, dependable reference point. You take your shoulders everywhere you go. You cannot shuffle them around for better traction or change their width depending upon the lie at hand.

The driver is the longest club in the bag, so it should be in line with the left shoulder. As each club gets shorter it moves progressively backwards until the center of the sternum which is where the wedges are played. You may have to experiment a bit for your irons to find the ideal position for each, but once you have these established you are done unless you are hitting a specialty shot!

So, if we relate ball position to the shoulders, we get consistent placement. Consistent placement equals consistent flight patterns.

Get your ball position right and say goodbye to the blues!

www.augustagolfinstruction.com
Improve your game

Golf, back pain & chiropractic.

By: B. J. Hathaway

Medicus Certified Instructor

In the U.S. today there are approximately 37 million golfers. In his 1998 article “Back pain in golfers: etiology and prevention”, (Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation) Dr. David Seaman writes:

There are an estimated 25 million golfers in the United States, and with the recent surge in the sport’s popularity, that figure should exceed 27 million by the year 2000. It is also estimated that 5-15% of touring professionals, and an even greater number of amateurs, will develop low-back problems.

This article discusses the biomechanics of the modern golf swing, its potential for placing the lower back at risk for injury, and the potentially modifiable factors that contribute to the prevalence of chronicity of golf-related injuries.

Today’s standard golf swing, imitated by millions and characterized by maximal torso rotation in the backswing and follow-through, predisposes the spine to painful injury. Golfers are often taught that maximal spinal rotation is needed to ensure maximum velocity at club/ball impact and maximum hitting distance. However, studies have demonstrated that a shorter backswing position with less torso rotation is more effective and generates far less potential for injury.

Golf injuries develop primarily because the golf swing represents a series of ineffective, injury-promoting movements. It is important that doctors of chiropractic understand the true biomechanics of the golf swing so they can recommend a more appropriate, “back friendly” swing to their patients.

Dr. Seaman is right. If your chiropractor is interested in keeping you healthy, your teaching professional should be, too.

The Golfing Machine by Homer Kelley teaches that there are four sources of power in the golf swing, known as Power Accumulators- or Power Sources-none of which are based on torso rotation.

The turning of the body, or “pivot,” should be a reaction to where the hands need to go. This is referred to as a “hand controlled pivot” in The Golfing Machine. Many teachers believe that the rotation of the body controls the hands. This is fine if you want to hit less than your maximum distance potential and create room for injury.

The geometry and physics of the golf swing, studied by all Authorized Instructors of The Golfing Machine and Medicus Certified Instructors, dictates that the hands always have a destination. Give your hands an assignment, where to go and what to do, then have them complete that assignment. The body should play a supporting role, and not vice-versa.

Educate your hands on their proper role in the golf swing. For more information contact Medicus Golf to find a Certified Instructor near you.

B. J. Hathaway is one of only 98 teachers worldwide designated to hold a “Bachelors in Golf Stroke Engineering.”

AGI

Improve your game

She swings like a Girl!

pictured: Ashley L. Davis

By: B. J. Hathaway: Medicus Certified Instructor

Watching the swings of the LPGA and better female amateur players is a learning experience. Generally you will see a long swing arc, good posture, and excellent rhythm. Not exactly down points if you were selling golf swings. The swings of the best players have even more virtues: on plane, balance, and a steady head. If their swings are so good, then why don’t they hit the ball the same distance as men, you may ask.

The differences are in swing speed and compression. Men generally swing faster and therefore compress the ball more effectively. So if you are a female golfer wanting more distance here are some things to consider:

1. All golfers fall into one of two categories: swinger or hitter. Most women are swingers due to the strength requirements of hitting; therefore, they must have certain components that maximize the swinging procedure.

2. As a swinger, you must make maximum use of centrifugal force by employing as many of the Power Accumulators that you can efficiently apply. Since the golf swing has four Power Accumulators (sources), you need not read a library of golf swing theory or biomechanical books.

What you do need to do is find a Medicus Certified Instructor (M.C.I.) and ask him or her to teach you:

The Swinging procedure using the Power Accumulators

Each M.C.I. has been trained to help you get the maximum effectiveness from your game, and they will be impressed that you know the lingo!

Learn to hit the ball further, but swing like a girl!

AGI
Improve your game