Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

[LowPost42]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

First of all, Michelle Wie is 18. You've got 4 years and a ton of growing (and growing stronger) ahead of you. Your distance for your age is good - if your swing coach says your swing is mechanically and technically sound, don't change it in the hunt for more distance.

Get stronger and more flexible instead.

Now, I don't advocate serious weight training while one is still in puberty, with physical growing and changing happening automatically. I do, however, advocate getting (and staying) in shape.

If you don't exercise anything else, strengthen your abs (all of them), and your back (both upper and lower). A strong 'core' is essential to all sports, especially golf.

But, since you'll be at the gym, you might as well get overall body strength. Train everything - and work with a good trainer.

I guess my only question is this: Is your swing good, or good enough?

[gord962]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

Michelle Wie is only 15.

As for training, work with yoga and pilates. Strengthening your core muscles is important and increased flexability is one of the biggest advantages you can get on the golf course.

[LowPost42]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

15? Really? Who the hell am I thinking of then?

And if I may, I'd like to back up the flexibility work - the larger your controllable range of motion, the better.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

Ricky,
You are only 14 and down to an 18 H/Capp inmagine what you could be in two years from now, living in Wales you are pretty much the same as me "stuck to the range in the week", if you work really hard at your swing over the winter and maybe fit say one lesson per month in you will be suprised how much just one winter can inprove your golf.

Set youself a target of 12 H/Capp by the end of next summer, this is easily achievable if you work on your all round game including carpet putting.(yes I know its boring but you will improve).

Finally you have lots of growing pains and other things on your mind at 14 also its not easy unless everything you want to do is in walking range.

Stick at it mate you will reap the rewards.

Ian.

[LowPost42]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

With college 4 years away, if you got serious about your game (got a good coach, and committed to practicing early and often), I'm sure you could get good enough to get a scholarship.

Just remember, there's no replacement for hard work and good instruction.

Off topic, how's your short game? By short game I mean any swing that is less-than-full; pitches, chips, etc. If you really want to shoot low scores, you need to hit your greens in regulation, and put the ball close enough to one putt.

Now, this may lose me some credibility, but this is my first year golfing. Halfway through the season, I picked up Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible, and started practicing diligently. By year end, I had dropped 6 strokes off my game, simply by being able to convert my missed GIR's into up and down's. (And as a beginning golfer, I had quite a few missed GIR's. Thank God for par 3's and par 5's!)

[gord962]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

Ricky, just remember - 1/2 your shots are from inside 100 yards. If you seriously want to be at the caliber of Wie, Francis and Gould you need to work on this area. How far you can hit off the tee doesn't matter if you can't putt well. Learn first how to judge the speed, then worry about the line. If you get the speed right, but are a foot off target with your line, you will only have a 1 foot putt left. On the other hand, if you miss judge your speed, it's hard to get near the hole.

As for your irons, forget about hitting your driver for a while, start hitting your irons. If you drive as well as you say you do, there is no need to practice with your driver. Work on the trouble areas. You need to practice your trouble areas until you have confidence that every time you step over the ball you are going to hit the shot you have pictured in your mind.

If you are really serious about improving, collecting balls in the dark will be worth getting the practice in. I assume when you say this is how you practice your irons that there is no driving range close by. Another alternative is if there is no driving range is investing in a driving net. You need to get the feeling of contacting the ball correctly and putting the right swing on the ball. The results are not overly important while practicing - it's repetition.

A final note: What ever you are practicing, make sure you are practicing the right technique - otherwise you will only be really good at making a bad swing.

[gord962]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

Get a mat to hit off. A large piece of carpet works well and is much cheaper. Just go to one of the local carpet stores and ask for an end of the roll piece or a tear-out.

[LowPost42]

Re: Michelle wie and phillip frances and etc

As for practice, Gord hit the nail on the head. Most golfers make the strong part of their game stronger, while ignoring their weak parts. (I can't believe this statement is still true, as I've seen it everywhere).

You need to still practice your strong points, but it should be more like refresher as opposed to serious time. Spend the most time on your weakest aspect.

A coach I had in my youth used to offer this phrase:

"Good, better, best. Never let it rest - until your good is better, and your better, best."

And remember that practice makes permanent, not perfect. Take the time to groove the best swing you can, then swing that way often.

I guess the other question is are you a feel player or a logic player?

You need to know so you can find yourself a compatible coach, or compatible study guide.

Butch Harmon is a feel coach, whereas Dave Pelz is a logic coach.