Welcome to the September edition of my newsletter!
There has been a lot of action in the game of golf since our last newsletter. The 2019 PGA Tour season ended with Rory Mcilroy winning the FedEx Cup, and the controversial Jack Nicklaus Award. Andy Ogletree won the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, and we already have our first winner of the 2020 PGA Tour season, Joaquín Niemann! Congratulations to all of these winners. Be sure to catch our interview with Andy Ogletree after his victory at the U.S. Amateur below. Fall in the Northeast may be my favorite time of year to play golf, and as always, we’re here to help you enjoy this great time of year, and play your best golf of the season. Check out this months Q&A that will help you maximize your warm up time when the days get shorter, and tips from my coaches! Enjoy.
Interview with Andy Ogletree
Michael reflects with the 2019 U.S. Amateur Champion from Pinehurst
MB: Did you think you had a chance to win this coming in? What was the thing that allowed you to believe you could win?
AO: Coming into the week probably not because I wasn't hitting it great. But after making 8 birdies Sunday, I felt pretty good about it. I wasn't going around telling everyone I was going to win, but in my head yeah, I thought I could win. I just believe in myself. I don't see why you go to a tournament if you don't believe you can win. That's just how I've always been.
Click below to Listen to the Full Interview with Andy!
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I played in a golf tournament this last weekend. Two days we amateurs were teamed with two pros. It was great to watch their routines. During the round I didn't feel it was right to ask them questions and after the round I didn't have a chance to ask this question. What is your warm-up routine? I read somewhere that Jordan Spieth warms up by finding the bottom of his swing. I have implemented that but would love other suggestions on what creates an effective warm-up.
-Rich
Thank you for your question Rich! This time of year, it is especially important to warm up effectively before you go play. The weather is cooler, you wear more clothing, and most of the time, you have less time to get your body going! To overcome these challenges, you need to manage your time in an efficient manner, and a solid routine will definitely help. I recommend stretching every day, even if you are not playing. This will help you stay limber, and it will make it easier to loosen up when you do get to the golf course. Wake up 10 minutes earlier than normal, and do some basic stretching. Try to touch your toes to loosen your hamstrings, do some neck rolls to loosen your neck. Rotate your forearms to loosen your forearms, and your shoulders. Daily basic stretches like this will go a long way. When you do get to the golf course, it is important to realize that you are loosening up, not practicing on the range. I recommend setting a certain number of balls to hit in each area, regardless of outcome. For example: hit 10 half wedges with your sand wedge, then five full sand wedges. Then, move to a seven or eight iron, and hit about five more balls. From there, move to the five or six iron, and hit five more. Five or so hybrids, and fairway woods will have you ready for some drivers. Moving up through your bag quickly will encourage you to make fuller swings, and actually stretch your body. After you have hit some drivers, you can go back and hit a few more wedges. It will be much easier to feel the bottom of your swing once you are loose. Before you play, I would spend some time hitting chips, and rolling some putts to get a feel for the speed of the greens on that day. Start with a few 30 foot putts uphill, and downhill before moving closer to the hole. Roll in a few three footers to see the ball go into the hole before you hit the first tee. The amount of time you spend in each area can be altered based on how much time you have to warm up. As a general rule, I recommend spending at least half your time in the short game area, and on the putting green. Experiment with different allocations of time in each area, and see which works best for you!
If you’re like everyone else, you’re always looking for more distance! You will hear things like “clear your hips faster!” “Jump off the ground!” “Hit up on it!” While all of these things may in fact increase your distance, there is one thing missing that will absolutely increase your club head speed, and your distance. Swing your arms faster. The faster you can swing your arms, the faster you will swing the club, and, you will likely gain some control in the process. At the top of your backswing, your lead arm will be in contact with your chest, and both of your forearms will be on the trail side of your spine. From here, your body begins to unwind, and rotate towards the target. If you rotate your body without accelerating your arms, your arms will get “stuck” behind you. This will encourage your arms to travel to the push side in the downswing and follow through, which decelerates the speed of the club head, and leads to pushes, and hooks depending on how fast you can flip the club face. This becomes very difficult to time, and nearly impossible to consistently make solid contact.
To increase that club head speed, and improve your contact, accelerate your arms to the lead side of your spine as you begin rotating your body through the shot. Your lead arm will separate from your chest, and your arms will begin to work back in front of your body. This will get the club head onto the strike line before making contact with the ball, and reduce the need to flip the club face through the strike. At the same time, you will be creating much faster club head speed! To practice this, set up to a ball, and take a half step toward the ball with your front foot, and a half a step away from the ball with your trail foot creating a closed stance. Then make a backswing, and keep your back facing the target for an extra split second, while accelerating your arms to the ball. Once your arms have begun to swing down the ball, you can allow your upper body to follow your arms and rotate through the shot. Closing your stance, and keeping your back to the target for a little longer will exaggerate the feeling of your arms accelerating through the shot. This is a great drill to increase your arm speed, and your club head speed. When you are looking for more distance, accelerate your arms through the shot, and you will increase your club head speed right away!
- Greg DuCharme
Michael Breed Golf Academy
Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America Greg@michaelbreed.com
Bob's Brilliance:
A great starting position can alleviate many missed shots, and improve consistency. There are two important angles to consider in a great ready golf position. These critical angles are forward bend (closer to the ball) and side tilt (away from the target). Setting a proper forward bend will set up an on-plane swing which helps keep your clubface square to the target line. Proper side tilt will help ensure a consistent bottom to the swing, which will lead to better contact.
To get that perfect forward bend, be sure to bend forward from your hips not your waist. The ideal forward bend is about 35 degrees. Forward bend will produce proper weight distribution in your feet, allowing for free body motion, while also setting you up for an on plane golf swing. Maintain this forward bend through the swing, and you’ll find your swing on a very consistent and proper swing plane.
The ideal spine tilt is approximately 10 degrees away from the target. This accommodates the trail hand holding the club below the lead hand, dropping the trail shoulder below the lead shoulder. This proper side tilt allows the player to transfer their weight to the trail leg on the backswing. With your power properly stored on your trailside, you will naturally shift to the lead side during the downswing. This will move your brush point forward ensuring a solid strike.
Nail these two vital pre shot angles and your ball striking will improve for sure.
- Bob Bigonette
Lead Instructor, PGA
Michael Breed Golf Academy Bob@michaelbreed.com
Dr. Nick's Mental Golf Advice:
Many players report moving their head when putting following the ball to the hole. I recommend taking two practice strokes looking at the hole and one practice stroke deliberately with deep and dedicated focus at looking at the ball waiting til the putter goes past the foot closest to the hole before looking up. The opposite awareness will be increased from looking at the hole to waiting till the putter goes past the foot should keep you focused on your head being down until the stroke is executed.
- Dr. Nick Molinaro
Licensed Psychologist
Counseling and Sport Psychology DrNickGolf.com
@DrNickGolf
Student Highlight
Congratulations to Will McDugald! Needing a par on the last hole to win his annual team golf event at Comanche Trace in Kerrville, Texas, Will overcame his nerves and jeers of friends to sink the winning putt!
I called in this morning with a concern regarding heeling the club. You told me the problem was an open club face and the fix was to strengthen grip, put ball back further in stance and ensure slight tilt to shoulders. I took these ideas to the course today and I have to tell you, you guys could not have been more on point! I did not heel the ball a single time, also, my good hits were about 10 yards longer than previously!
Thanks a ton guys!
Cheers, Wes
Michael and Greg,
Just for the record, with everything you've helped me with I've been able to accomplish one of my major goals this year. Before this year, I had never broke 80, I have now broken it three times,
Thanks again,
Scott Dozier
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