Warning: If you mimic this swing, you will injure yourself.

You are never going to hit the ball as good as these guys, nor mirror their technical superiority. But you can learn a thing or two by watching the following videos.  Thanks to YouTube, CBS Sports and their fascinating high-speed Swing Vision camera.. and oh…of course Pros N’ Hackers for putting them all in one neat place for you to view. 

Tiger Woods Swing Vision

Phil Mickelson Swing Vision

Padraig Harrington Swing Vision

Retief Goosen Swing Vision

Anthony Kim Swing Vision

Adam Scott Swing Vision

Sergio Garcia Swing Vision

Ernie Els Swing Vision

Luke Donald Swing Vision

Hunter Mahan Swing Vision

Pat and his staff also teach some of the area's top junior golfers.

He is one of the most skilled competitive golfers in the Middle Atlantic, owning rounds in the low 60’s at several of the toughest courses in the area, yet Pat McGuire has found perhaps his true calling, teaching . While he can’t expect golfers to all have natural ability to strike the ball purely everytime, he does know that they can all follow simple routines and drills that will improve every aspect of their game.

Pat is the Director of Golf at Raspberry Golf Academy, located in two prime D.C. Metro locations; Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club in Leesburg, Va and Old Hickory Golf Club in Woodbridge, Va.  The question is not what Pat and his staff specialize in at the academy, yet what don’t they have expertise in?  Raspberry Golf Academy is basically a one stop shop for golfers.  Be it standard training with body and swing adjustments, or perhaps the mental approach to the game and swing.  Instruction techniques are backed by some of the most state of the art swing technologies in use today. Frame by frame swing analysis, side by side comparisons from previous lessons as well as some of the most sought after club fitting software in use in the industry today, are all at Pat’s disposal.  However, sometime it just comes down to just using his eyes and asking his own questions. 

Philosophy:
“The Body Swing Connection”  Most of the common swing flaws are directly related to poor body motion or physical limitations.  

Golf influences:
My father - don’t tell me what you can do, show me what you can do. Butch Harmon- work with what a person has. Tiger Woods- work harder than everyone else even at the top of your game. Dave Pelz-why guess how far you’re away from the hole. Greg Rose - cause and effect of technology and understanding the body. Mark Nemish- champions are made in the offseason.

Pat utilizes advance video technology to help his students in the learning process.

Skills and training: 
Advantage golf level 1,2,3. BIO-LINK 3D SWING MECHANICS. Advantage golf fitness instructor  (master) Body motion analysis I-club staff member, zeno-link. 

A new season is here again and you are ready to jump right into your golf swing. A recess from golf can lead to stiffness of unused golf muscles.  Even if you spent the winter working out with weights and aerobic exercise, you may be in for a surprise.

The simple idea is that the turning motion of the golf swing is different than the up and down motion of running and lifting. A steady couch position or a winter workout without any rotational movement could delay the start of your golf game.

When students come to me early in the season, I often notice that their shoulder and torso turns have become somewhat limited over time-off from golf.

Turning and Resisting
One of the major parts of the golf swing is the turning motion of the hips and shoulders. The combination of torso, hips and shoulders turning together at different degrees produces a resistance that helps control the golf club and helps maximize clubhead speed. Without this turning motion and resistance, the player consistently struggles with the arms trying to control the swing. Bypassing these power muscles hinders the potential of natural acceleration and desired distance and control. This turn does require some flexibility but not a major yoga or ‘Gumby’ move. So, keep reading.

Wake Up Call
A layoff due to cold weather, injury, work or family matters can produce a sluggish swing.  The body may not want to create resistance.  In fact, the body may want to take the path of least resistance.  In the golf swing, resistance happens when the upper torso and shoulders turn while stabilizing the lower torso and legs. When the upper torso and shoulders turn to a fuller degree than the stabilized hips, a coiling action occurs. This coil is called resistance.

Personally Speaking
My most recent experience of my mind and body battling in this area took place on the driving range at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course. The winds were blowing at 30 mph and I had just finished a big, delicious lunch. Between the winds and the lunch, turning my shoulders and torso was the last thing I wanted to do. Here I was at one of the top courses in the country, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop and I could not control my golf club. I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to play, as the caddies and I watched my golf ball do trick shots. However, by recognizing my lack of shoulder and torso turn, I was able to get back on track, pushed through the defiance and was able to experience this incredible golf course with success.

Why Don’t We Turn:

• Lack of proper training.
• Muscles are too bulky.
• Muscles are too rigid (physical and/or mental tension).
• Posture in the set up position is incorrect.
• Limitations and fear caused by injuries.
• Stubbornness.

Turning the Upper Torso and Shoulders
Everything moves away from the ball in unison in the start of the golf swing. Some players may trigger their swing with a shoulder move or hip move, but in general, it is important to keep all of these components moving together for easier timing. “Everything” in this case means that the torso, the shoulders and the hips are all turning with the arms in the backswing. If the upper torso is frozen or motionless, the shoulders cannot turn. The upper torso opens the door for the shoulders to turn with the hips. 

We sent our main man Kelly Murray down to Orlando, Florida to the Taylor Made Performance Lab.  Kelly has been practicing up for the Champions Tour and was eager to get a closer look at his swing.  He’s a former World Long Drive Record Holder, so you can imagine that he’s got a lot of power.  But what is he missing?  Is there anything holding him back from retaining those winning ways that he had on the Canadian Tour.  Special thanks to Taylor Made’s Travis Kent who conducted two separate sessions with Kelly six weeks apart. Enjoy Kelly Murray’s getting a little advice. Click video to watch.

Mark Guttenberg

No More Elbow Room (August 2007)

 Solves: Coming over the top, flying elbow and chicken wing.

Keep the distance of the elbows the same throughout the entire swing…You may want to feel as though you are pushing your elbows together as you swing, to help avoid the separation of the elbows on the backswing.

Leslie Guttenberg

Hitting Down on the Ball (Fall 2008)

Solves:  Hitting the ball fat

The club makes contact with the ball first and then makes contact with the ground, producing a divot and creating backspin. At the moment of impact, the shaft angle mush have a forward lean toward the target. This means the handle passes the ball before the clubhead. Players making good contact with the ball make their divots past the ball.

Mitchell Spearman

What’s Your Game Plan? (March 2008)

Solves:  Lack of Motivation

Just like  in anything-you can only be as good as you want to be. Tiger Woods is the number one player in the world and he continues to strive to get better in every aspect of his game. For the average golfer, they can very much expect to get better if they create a solid plan that is realistic to them. But it takes work, time and plenty of practice to get better. It’s all about how much better you want to be than you are now.

 Leslie Guttenberg

The Swing and the Sling (Fall 2007)

 Solves:  throwing balance off-center, losing power and accuracy

 Checklist:

*Correct posture sets you up for a proper torso rotation in the backswing. Make sure that you are bending from the hips. (tail out).

 *Stabilize your back foot to prevent a sway or lateral move. Keep the weight on the inside of the back foot in the backswing. A lateral move will force weight to the outside of your back foot.

 *Practice with your feet together to learn a sense of stability in the torso.

 Mitchell Spearman

Find a Pro That FITS Your Game (June 2008)

If you are a golfer who only plays half a dozen times a year, then go ahead and take full advantage of club technology and get that extra lofted hooked face driver to cure your slice. Let the club compensate for all of your errors. The truth is, you’re not going to get better, but you will be able to enjoy the little bit of golf you do play. If, on the other hand, you play more than that and you want to improve your game, then your fitter will see that and take that into account. You will not be fit for clubs that are over-corrective.

Leslie Guttenberg

It’s all About the Release (June 2008)

Solves: Lack of Power

Using your larger, stronger muscles are the most effective keys to releasing the club. These muscles are more reliable under pressure. The torso and the forearms produce more consistency, as opposed to the overuse of the hands to manipulate the golf club.

Mitchell Spearman

Wintertime Warm Ups (GolfSource 2007)

 Solves: Getting back in golf shape

Try swinging a weighted driver, one that you can actually hit balls with. It is helpful to feel where the club is in your swing. You also have the benefit of gently stretching out your muscles to increase flexibility.

Mark Guttenberg

Your Fate Lies in Your Feet (Summer 2008)

 Solves: Lack of balance and power in the golf swing.

Good balance comes from proper footwork. If you want to swing in balance, look no further than your feet. When you take that perfect practice swing start noticing where the weight moves to at the top of your backswing.If you are making a good turn away from the ball and loading your right leg, then the weight should be somewhere on the inside of your right foot, toward the heel.  When you swing the finish position, you should notice that the weight should now be on the outside of your left shoe and more towards the heel.

Leslie Guttenberg

Turn and Burn (April 2008)

Solves: Lack of shoulder turn, not maximizing resistance.

One of the major parts of the golf swing is the turning motion of the hips and shoulders. The combination of the torso, hips and shoulders turning together at different degrees produces a resistance that helps control the golf club and helps maximize clubhead speed.  Without this, the play consistently struggles with the arms trying to control the swing.

Mitchell Spearman

7-Drills to Improve Your Swing: Split Hand Grip (June 2007)

 Solves: Slicing and Hooking

Try this on the practice range: By making swings with your hands slightly separated on the grip it encourages the hinging (cocking) and unhinging of the wrists. This drill can be beneficial for both the slicer and the hooker. For the slicer, it helps promote more hand/arm rotation through impact, which helps square up the club. For the hooker  it will help you quiet your hand action and encourage more body rotation to  eliminate the hook. As you get better at this, try bringing the hands closer together, so as to have a minimal gap between them. 

HIT DOWN ON THE BALL What Does That Mean?

By: Leslie Guttenberg, LPGA

For some, the idea of hitting down on the ball comes naturally. For others, the concept makes no sense. I find many men telling women that they need to hit down on the ball. It seems simple, but the big question mark still looms. Let’s dissect this model and find out what it really means to “hit down on the ball.”

 

The Physics

The path that the golf club travels on is a circular motion. The ball is at rest at the bottom of the circle on the ground. The club swings up on the circle in the backswing and then because of gravity, its natural tendency would be to then swing down to the bottom of the circle. The club continues to swing up the circle after making contact with the ball to complete the swing.

“Hitting down on the ball,” happens at the bottom of the arc of the circle. The club makes contact with the ball first and then makes contact with the ground producing a divot and creating backspin. Backspin makes the ball go up in the air. At the moment of impact, the shaft angle must have a forward lean toward the target. This means that the handle passes the ball before the clubhead. Players making good contact with the ball make their divots past the ball.

Different swing personalities make different depths of divots. Many good players make no divots, however, they still make contact with the ground past the ball. If your contact with the turf is before the club meets the ball, then you are not “hitting down on the ball” properly.

Why does a player hit up into the ball vs. down on the ball?

1. Not wanting to hit the ground because of an injury

2. Ball positioned too far forward in the stance

3. Scooping effort trying to lift the ball in the air

4. Hips rotating improperly in the backswing (swaying/moving away from center)

5. Improper weight transfer in the forward swing (flat-footed or falling back)

6. Quick and uneven tempo Slow It Down

Many golf techniques are initially taught with a full swing. Full swings produce a higher swing speed. What if you learned a new technique at a slower speed? If you watch a swing analysis on television, the analyst shows the swing in slow motion. You are able to see the components and the sequence. When we swing at full speed, we may miss the details in learning. Shorter golf swings produce slower swing speeds. Short swings can range anywhere from a chip to a pitch swing.

To learn to “hit down on the ball,” begin with a pitch shot length swing and without a golf ball. As you swing, watch and feel the club swing up and down to the bottom of the arc. Make contact with the ground as you swing.

Notice where your club is making contact and try to repeat this motion. Also notice that your tempo and rhythm play an important part in the up and down motion. Pay attention to your torso. Is it staying centered? Once you have the sensation of swinging on the arc and you are making consistent contact with the ground, place a ball on the spot behind the contact point. Continue swinging at a slow pace. After repeating this motion several times, begin accelerating the club more through the impact area to increase your backspin. Increase your swing speed by taking longer swings while focusing on the contact. Notice as you swing through, that your weight is transferring from your back foot to your front foot.