K.J. Choi Clinic (Nike Golf) -- some takeaways

[McGolf-Doggie]

KJ CHOI CLINIC

I had the good fortune to attend a clinic by KJ "T-Rex" Choi and Nike Golf at Harbor Links here on Long Island last weekend, a few days prior to the beginning of the U.S. Open.

I was just going to my local range to practice with my son before a tourney on Monday, and lucked out I guess. OK, so didn't get to hit any balls as the range was closed, but got a couple of useful tips among the advice KJ dispensed. I'm kind of a KJ fan too, since I have similar "T-Rex" arms.

The similarities end there, however.

Hot sunny day. KJ accompanied by the Nike entourage, walked up to a couple of pyramids of balls and set to work, speaking in Korean, with an English language translator providing interpretation over the PA system.

GRINS
Needless to say the many Korean-speaking people in the audience were the first to laugh at KJ's humor before the English speakers there heard the translation, but KJ's dry wit worked just as well in English as in Korean, to provide a second round of chuckles.

Before taking a Q&A;, KJ proceeded to put on a commentary-aided demonstration using Nike Clubs and the STR8 fit system. (You knew there had to be plenty of tongue-in-cheek jokes about how the equipment helps one hit it straighter, right? Well he's a pretty funny dude when he wants to be.

IMPRESSIVE
How much does he practice? Well about 1,000 balls -- short game -- between 8 and lunchtime, and about 600 balls, long game, after lunch. I'll leave it to you to figure out if that has anything to do with him being a top professional.

That said, he hit the ball really impressively, high, low, left right, draw, fade. Wherever he called it. He hit it.

While he was hitting away, irons, driver and woods, he pointed out that he likes to vary his targets during practice, constantly changing them.

BEFORE YOU HIT THE COURSE
Paraphrasing KJ , here goes: ...
" I figure some of you share a similar problem if you spray balls left and right, long and short, during the first 9 holes, and finally get it together on the back nine, maybe?"

I'm not sure I remember whether he mentioned anything about interaction with the beverage cart after that, but the point he wanted to make there was for folks about to play a round of golf, to make sure they don't just go on the course and start hitting.

Instead, he said, take the time to play through the clubs in your bag, from shortest to longest, putter, wedges, irons, [hybrids], woods, etc. before hitting the course. A few strokes with each doesn't have to take much time. (It also helps speed up play, he noted.)
After the last club in the bag, he revisits any clubs that didn't feel right. KJ went back to the 8-iron for a little bit.

Not rocket science, but he said it was amazing how many people skip that vital step, and wonder why their game is a shambles when they hit the course.

LOOSENING UP
He also recommended a couple of simple stretches to help loosen up. One was a rotational torso stretch, centered over your stance, with the driver placed over the shoulders, about where the neck meets the back, with your arms draped over it, as a stretching aid. [Careful with this, those of you with herniated cervical disks like me (go easy)]. You've most likely seen this stretch performed by others at the driving range: Feet about shoulder width apart. Completely centered in your stance, you alternate rotating one shoulder to point it forward, then the other (or as far forward as is practical for you). The driver helps you

The other stretch was a side stretch -- again with the driver placed over the shoulders as above, leaning over to one side then another. [Again, careful with this, those of you with herniated cervical disks like me (go easy).]

2 MUCH THINKING BAD
Another point he made, concerned folk who tend to take too much time thinking over/setting up for their stroke. These folk, he said, tend to make worse shots. His solution, simple, don't spend too much time thinking about your shot; line it up, focus on the target and swing.

I figured he's not referring to course management here, but rather upon dithering, hesitation and over-thinking a stroke, with too much "swingthought" going on. He was really talking about playing the shot you intend, focusing on the target and trusting your swing.

GRIP
Well, my kid was getting sunburned by this time (yep, there was sunshine on L.I. once this month!), and we had to leave, so I didn't get a chance to hear what he might have to say about grip, aside from that it was potentially an issue for plenty of folk. Too tight a grip being one of the problems.

During the Q&A; one lady asked him about swinging driver. He said he noticed many not really swinging with any conviction, and advised not to throw away shots with timid soft swings

Well that's about it. I'm sure I missed a slew of stuff, but here's a quick summary:

SUMMARY:
Loosen up a bit before you play: Torso rotational stretch centered over your stance, with driver on your shoulders
Side stretch with driver on your shoulders

Pre-round practice -- Do it! -- Shortest clubs to longest in bag, return at end to any that didn't feel right.

Don't spend too much time thinking about your shot; focus on the target and swing

Vary targets during practice.

Ladies - and whomever; don't throw away shots with timid soft swings

Grip -- it's a common problem with many casual golfers -- too tight?

[wrx_junki]

Totally forgot about this. I was interested in going. Good to hear that you learned some good tips.