Tom Tucker is a World Golf Teachers and United States Golf Teacher Federation-certified golf instructor. He may be contacted via his website or at the Plum Creek driving range in Batavia, NY.
Tom often includes bonus tips and buffalogolfer.com has united three of them this week: Comfort Zones, Pre Round Putting Warm Up and Range Ball Distance. Intrigued? Read on.
Range Ball Distance
For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties …. well, you know what to do!
Do range balls fly the same distance as normal balls?
The answer is yes, to the tune of about 10 yards per club due to differences in construction. There are also some manufacturers who make balls specifically for ranges with length limitations, and these balls may fly as much as 20 to 30 yards shorter than a standard ball.
I tell all of my students to practice for consistency on the range, and to try to gauge distance when they play practice rounds on the course.
If you get a chance to play alone when no one is rushing you, don’t be afraid to hit several balls from exactly 150 yards with
your 150 club to see if it’s really your 150 club.
Playing the same brand and model ball will also help with consistency. Don’t be that player, who when asked “what kind of ball are you playing?” responds with “whatever I pull out of my bag!”
Love your practice, enjoy your golf,
Tom
Pre Round Putting Warmup
For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties …. well, you know what to do!
Your pre round putting practice should have these objectives:
- To determine green speed and to calibrate your stroke
– take ten “core” putting strokes on a flat portion of the green, five in one direction, then five in the opposite direction along the same line - To acquire “feel transfer” for your actual play
– putt to nine different hole locations and distances, hole each putt - To leave for the first tee with putting confidence
– stroke ten uphill two footers in a row, stroke the putts firmly into the hole
Warm up this way and you’ll leave the practice green with a warm fuzzy feeling about your putting.
Love your practice, enjoy your golf,
Tom
Comfort Zones
For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties …. well, you know what to do!
This week I was simply going to advise each of you to play the shot you are comfortable with instead of trying for that “career” shot, but I had to add a couple of comments I received after last weeks tip about not being negative.
Lin J. sent me the following email after last week’s newsletter:
“I thoroughly enjoy your tips, musings, instruction, and passion. Agree with your discussion on negativity. One personal quirk I have overcome, still observed in many golfers, both friends and pick-ups for the round: teeing off, sometimes even in the fairway, with a looming water hazard to cross (like Batavia CC #8 or #2), the player will switch golf balls because he doesn’t want to lose the good one he’s playing. I tell him to bring out his ball autographed by Tiger or Nicklaus, and hit it over! Personally, I certainly don’t have a 100% success rate, but it has improved my chances, without having to verbalize anything. ”
Thanks for the feedback Lin – although I would add that if you do happen to have a ball autographed by Tiger or Jack, take it out of your bag and put it in a safe place.
One last note, last issue I also said to “Avoid any thoughts with “Don’t” in it like the plaque”, I meant to say “like the plague” – and thanks to Fran B. for the heads up!
Love your practice, enjoy your golf,
Tom
