How to Improve at Golf by Using a Camera

Lasting improvement in golf can be really hard, I explain how I did it by using a simple video camera.

Thrash TalkIn the last few years there has been an explosion of Internet golf instruction. It started as a small movement mostly on forums, and now has grown to a point where individual instructors now have their own sites and forums dedicated to instruction. What has sparked this wildfire you say? Simple answer? The slow motion video camera.

When I was growing up, I was quite lucky to essentially live on a range. I worked at the course washing carts so I would get free range balls. Many of the pros who worked in the shop would come out and give me some lessons. During this period, the pro would watch your swing a few times, give you a few pointers and then be on his way.

I would go on hitting hundreds of balls and after a while I would go back to having many of the same problems. I could never understand why. Today I know, without a camera to track my improvement I would slip back into all the bad habits I developed and never really improve.

Callaway Rolls Out New Irons, Odyssey Expands Putter Line-up

New, premium putters are now available from Odyssey, while Callaway has new utility clubs and irons on the way.

Bag DropIn the coming months, Callaway Golf will be releasing two new products to the golfing world. The first, which will be available in December, are the X Utility Prototype Irons. Towards the end of January, Callaway will release the new version of the X Forged irons. Both clubs were designed by Callaway Chief Designer Roger Cleveland. In addition to the new irons, Odyssey (Callaway’s putter division), recently released a new premium line, the ProType Black Putters.

Volume Three Hundred Thirty Two

The top 25 get their cards.

Hittin' the LinksThere are 25 very happy guys tonight after they received their 2013 PGA Tour cards following the completion of the Web.com Tour Championship. Now we sit around and wait to see who makes the top 125, then watch how Q-School shakes out to find out who we will watch do this whole thing over again in 2013.

In this edition of Hittin’ the Links we begin with a look at the top 25, then find out why Nick Watney needs to send flowers to his wife, and check out the cash Tiger and Rory got in China. Also, we look into Graeme’s dilemma, check out some Jesper style, and do a wrap-up of the weeks events. Read on!

Golfing Scotland with Go Ahead Tours

A “do-it-all” tour of the birthplace of golf that’s suitable for golfers of all levels and, if they so desire, their spouses as well.

Go Ahead ToursEvery hard-core golfer dreams of playing golf where the sport was born, and as I discovered over a glorious nine-day span in September, 2012, Go Ahead Tours Golf Vacations can make your dreams come true.

On September 22 I traveled from Buffalo, NY to Newark, NJ before leaving on an overnight flight for Glasgow, Scotland. Over the next six days I’d play seven rounds of golf on the links courses at Western Gailes, Turnberry’s Ailsa Course, North Berwick, and the Castle, New, Jubilee, and Old Courses at St. Andrews. I’d run on the very beach made famous by the movie Chariots of Fire and tour castles once visited by Robert the Bruce and William Wallace (yes, that’s Braveheart).

The trip, dubbed “Highlights of Scotland Golf Vacation” by Go Ahead, certainly lived up to the billing. Join me as I recap my trip, talk of some of my own highlights, and share as many pictures as I can reasonably fit in one article.

Who am I? A long-time avid golfer turned golf instructor. I’ve got a busy schedule, and though I could have arranged a golf trip myself, I chose Go Ahead’s Golf Vacations division because they handled everything and did it at a price that was likely lower than I could have arranged on my own or with another tour company.

Volume Three Hundred Thirty One

Fall is in the air!

Hittin' the LinksThe days are getting shorter, there is a chill in the air, and a lot of guys no one has ever heard of played in this weeks PGA Tour event…it must be Fall! Another week has gone by Sand Trappers and I have returned with one more edition of Hittin’ the Links.

In this edition of HtL we start off with a look at Ricky Fowler’s back, see what Tiger is considering, and take a peek behind the scenes at a PGA Tour event. Also on tap, Tiger discusses number one, we peruse the Money List, and check out this week’s winners. Read on!

Thoughts on the American Collapse at the Ryder Cup

Up 10-6 it seemed inconceivable on Saturday night that the Americans could lose the Cup, but they did.

Thrash TalkAs I watched Steve Stricker’s chip shot on the 17th hole during the Ryder Cup roll past the hole about four feet, my heart sank into my stomach. I had a feeling at that moment that we had lost the Ryder Cup. Stricker would make a valiant par at the last and force Kaymer to make the putt to win, but it just seemed that after the bogey on 17 the outcome was all but certain.

The failings of the American team on that Sunday do not come down to any one player. Twelve American golfers went out to play and only three managed to win. You could argue that had Tiger cared he probably would have won as well, so call it four. I looked at the matchups on Sunday morning and I thought that we were in trouble right from the start.

Five Observations From the 2012 Ryder Cup

Rationalizing the Miracle at Medinah.

Trap Five LogoUnless you’ve been living under a rock that doesn’t get WiFi for the last few days, you’ve likely heard the story of how the United States lost the Ryder Cup. Leading the European team 10-6 going into the Sunday singles matches, the U.S. got off to a slow start, and although they did manage to knock over a few dominoes in the middle of the day, a par putt on the 18th green gave the victory in the penultimate match to former world number one Martin Kaymer.

The normal Ryder Cup formula was reversed, in that the Euros got down in team play and made it up in the singles. The U.S. team, which looked poised to clinch the Cup well before the so-called anchors of Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods came down the stretch, was set up well, with it’s high-energy youngsters starting off play.

But in the end, the Stateside team was no match for, as I put it last week, Ian Poulter’s fist-pumps and patriotism.

New Irons from Mizuno

With four new sets of irons, Mizuno has something for everybody.

Bag DropThis September Mizuno released four new sets of irons aimed at all levels of golfers. For the better player they have released the MP-64, a better players cavity back. For those looking for something a bit more forgiving without giving up too much of the workability, there is the new MP-H4 which targets scratch golfers to those with handicaps up to around 15. In addition to the two new MP sets, there are new JPX irons as well (which if you remember replaced the MX line last year). They are the JPX-825 and the JPX-825 Pro.

Volume Three Hundred Thirty

Hey, that dog’s got my ball!

Hittin' the LinksWhat a couple of weeks its been since the last Hittin’ the Links! Sorry Sand Trappers but everyone needs to take a holiday now and then. On my vacation we watched Rory dominate, crowned a FedEx Cup winner, and watched as the American Ryder Cup team gagged their guts out on the final day of competition. Now that that’s all behind us we can get on with the Fall Finish and then to the real excitement, Q-School.

In this edition of HtL we begin with one adorable outside agency, check out one long putt, and find out what Davis Love III has to say about the Ryder Cup. Also, we find out what Lefty’s doing on Monday Night Football, investigate an awkward smooch, and do a wrap-up of the weeks events, read on!