Tips from the Pro: Practice with Purpose

With the new year quickly approaching thousands of us will make resolutions, hoping that 2010 will be the best golf year of our lives. We'll buy new clubs, a new wardrobe, and even promise ourselves to start a workout program that would make Joe Weider himself proud. Fact is all will be for not if a solid practice routine isn't part of the makeover.

The key is to practice with purpose, with a plan, with a goal in mind. Do more then pummel drive after drive, or use your favourite club because you know you hit it well. Here are some suggestions that I use that will help not only practice sessions improve but also help to lower scores.

- Go with 1 goal in mind. If its to work on rhythm, work on rhythm, not rhythm then grip, then swing plane, then posture, and so on. Soon you'll forget why you were there in the first place.

- Start each practice session by stretching out a little. Loose relaxed muscles work better then stiff tight ones.

- Spend just as much time chipping and putting as working on your long game. And for the love of the game get into a bunker and learn to hit the green side bunker shot. Remember more then 70% of all shots are played from 125 and in.

- Work through the bag, hitting a few balls with each club. The idea is to not get in a groove hitting only one club. Imitate on course situations.

- Practice shots from a variety of lies. This includes rough, sand filled divots, with the ball above and below your feet. Don't give yourself a prefect lie every time, mix it up.

- Spend some time learning to hit a variety of shots. The fade, the draw, a high towering shot, a low stinger, these are all shots you will need in the bag at some point or another.

- Work on the quality of the practice session, not the quantity of the balls hit. My best sessions always happen when I cut it short before fatigue sets in.

- Play H-O-R-S-E or closest to the pin with a buddy. It really helps to get the competitive juices going, and forces you to hit a shot when you have to.

- Have fun. When you start cursing under your breath, and become to frustrated to focus call it a day. Trust me if you continue more harm then good will come out of it.

Hope these simple practice tips help. If you have some of your own that work let me know.

Cheers

Best shots of 2009 on the PGA Tour

Here's a collection of the 5 best shots hit on the PGA Tour during 2009. Enjoy.

The video is courtesy of PGATour.com

Cheers,

Tiger Woods named Athlete of the Decade

It's nice to finally post some news about Tiger other then his recent sex scandal. The Associated Press awarded Tiger the honors of "Athlete of the Decade" by looking at what he's achieved on the course in ten years and not whats happened in his personal life over the last three weeks.

It's hard to deny that what Tiger has done over the last decade with his clubs is truly a Herculean feat. He has won 64 times, hoisted 12 major titles, won 56 PGA Tour events, and has won in every continent golf is played.

Tiger received 56 of a possible 142 votes that have been cast by AP member editors starting last month. Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France six times, finished second with 33 votes. Other notables include Roger Federer with 25 votes, Micheal Phelps with 13 votes, and Tom Brady with 6 votes.

Few people have changed their profession like Tiger Woods. He draws record crowds, spikes TV ratings, and has influenced prize money to nearly quadruple since he joined the PGA Tour, not to mention be the first athlete in history to hit the billion dollar mark in earnings.

Cheers,

Top Stories of 2009

I found a great article by Randell Mell, a golf writer, that highlighted the top 10 golf stories of 2009 and what we learned from them. (I've added some personal thoughts about each story) Here is the list starting at #10. If you have any comments about the list, or have a golf related story that you think should make the list let us know.

#10 - Golf named an Olympic sport beginning 2016:
About time. Golf has now entered the global stage.

#9 - The economy's effect on golf:
This shows that even golf isn't recession proof. From courses closing at an alarming rate, to sponsors pulling out of PGA and LPGA events. Want more proof, The LPGA Tour will only feature 24 events next year, down from 34 this year.

#8 - Carolyn Bivens ousted as LPGA commissioner:
Carolyn was run out of town by a player revolt. This goes to show who really runs the tours...the players.

#7 - Phil Mickelson's wife (Amy) and mother (Mary) diagnosed with breast cancer:
Breast Cancer is nearly an epidemic and it doesn't discriminate.

#6 - Lucas Glover beating Mickelson to win US Open:
Phil was without a doubt the sentimental favourite here, playing the way he did after learning just weeks before that wife Amy had breast cancer. I guess Glover isn't the sentimental type.

#5 - Michelle Wie winning first LPGA title:
Her potential and promise were finally realized. I hope you have strong back Michelle, because the LPGA's future is on your shoulders.

#4 - Tiger returns after surgery to win seven times:
There were doubts how he would return after an 8 month layoff. In true Tiger fashion he quickly quieted the naysayers and made me realize he has to be at least 1/3 bionic.

#3 - Y.E. Yang comes from behind to beat Tiger and win the PGA:
This showed everyone that Tiger is at least part mortal. With a lead going into the final round, his name was already engraved on the Wanamaker, until Y.E. had plans of his own. The trophy now reads: Tiger Yang.

#2 - Tom Watson nearly winning the Open:
This showed a new generation that Watson was every bit as good as history says. I would beg to argue that he's a whole lot better.

#1 - The Tiger Woods Scandal:
Enough said.

Tiger sails away from golf

Well late last night Tiger Woods announced that he was taking "an indefinite break from professional golf", and apologized again for his infidelity. It seems that Woods' return will hinge greatly on his wife Elin.

Will he be back for the Master's in April, or the Open in July? Time will only tell where Tiger's legacy goes from here. For now, it's on his private yacht away from the media and all the allegations as he tries desperately to save his family.

Cheers,

Gatorade drops Tiger

I'm sure we all figured it was coming, but the question was who and when. Well my friends we have the answers.

Gatorade announced today that they will no longer be sponsoring Tiger Woods. They claim the decision was made months ago and has nothing to do with the recent "mistress fiasco" surrounding Woods. The company stated: " We decided several months ago to discontinue "Gatorade Tiger Focus" along with some other products to make room for our planned series of innovative products in 2010."

Whether you believe the statement or not, the question now becomes how many more sponsors will follow Gatorade's lead. We all know these things have a tendency to avalanche, someone just has to throw the first snowball down the hill. If you need proof, after mistress Rachel Uchitel was the first to come forward, 7 or 8 others have now come tumbling down the slope. Ouch.

Cheers,

Tips from the Pro: Work on finish to shape shots

When I'm teaching or playing a round with members at the club I work at, I'm often asked how to shape shots. First let's understand the three basic shot shapes. These include: straight, left-to-right (fade), or right-to-left (draw).

I found the easiest way to shape a shot is simply adjusting your finish position. To hit a draw, rehearse releasing the club fully (right forearm rotating over the left) through impact to a complete finish, with the club "wrapped" around your neck. To hit a fade practice holding off the release for a split second through impact, with your finish being "held off" with the club standing tall. (see picture above)

The secret is to visualize the shot you want to hit, then practice the swing while concentrating on the finish. Soon you'll be knighted as a shotmaker, and from there PGA super stardom.

Just remember who gave you the tip to make it all happen.

Cheers,

Tiger admits "transgressions"

So today we realize that Tiger Woods isn't a squeaky clean super golfing cyborg. He's human, and like all humans, makes mistakes. It's just his mistakes big or small are magnified for the world to pick apart and debate. It's unfortunate but that my friends is the nature of the beast, and the price paid for being the highest paid, most recognizable sport figure ever.

With that, Tiger made a statement on his site today admitting to "transgressions" after a highly publicized article in US Weekly about a 31-month affair Tiger had with Jamiee Grubbs, a Los Angeles cocktail waitress.

“I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all my heart,” Woods said in his statement. “I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults, and I am far short of perfect.”

Woods was also fined $164 and four points after being charged by the Florida State Patrol for careless driving.

The TW saga continues...If and when there's more to report, I will. Until then I'll get back to posting tips and other non-Tiger related golf 411.

Cheers,

Tiger withdraws from Chevron

Tiger withdrew Monday afternoon from the Chevron World Challenge, a tournament that he hosts in Thousand Oaks, California.

Woods cited injuries that he sustained from the infamous car accident that occurred early Friday morning. A stalemate between Woods and investigators continues, while charges are still pending.

Stay tuned, this saga is sure to get better as more info seeps to the media.

Cheers,

Tiger released from hospital

Word is that Tiger Woods accident Friday turned out not to be as bad as first reported. Woods was released from a Florida hospital after suffering facial lacerations.

Apparently Tiger's wife, Elin Nordegren used one of his clubs to smash out the back window of his SUV. She then dragged him to safety after his vehicle crashed into a hydrant, hit a tree and came to stop in a neighbors yard.

It is still unknown why Tiger left his home around 2:30am Friday morning, rumour is he and Elin had a "marital spat". I'm sure more will come to light in the days to come, so stay posted.

Cheers,

Tiger Woods seriously injured after car wreck

It was reported by the Florida Highway Patrol early this morning that PGA superstar Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a car accident.

Apparently Woods was pulling out of his Isleworth home around 2:30 am when his SUV struck a fire hydrant and then drove into a tree on his neighbor's property. Woods was transported to Health Center Hospital in serious condition.

FTP said the crash is still under investigation, however they say the accident was not alcohol-related.

Tiger you and your family are in our prayers.

Stay posted for updated info.

Faddy Golf highlighted in Biz X magazine

A few weeks back I posted a picture of me and the boys for Bix Z magazine, where Faddy Golf was nominated for "Outstanding New Business of 2009". Though we weren't the eventual winner, we have received some great exposure through an article and ad in the December issue of Biz X, which is they're biggest issue of the year.

You know to win would have been cherry, but it's better to be nominated and not win then not be nominated at all.

If anyone is interested in the article go to www.bizxmagazine.com, click on the Nov/Dec issue, and the article is on pg. 77-78.

Cheers,

Jer

Tips from the Pro: Keep left wrist flat through impact

The most important moment in the golf swing is at impact. Even though alot of great players have individual swings, the impact position is always the same which creates solid contact. The secret is a "flat" left wrist position at impact. This position will compress the ball and utilize the club's true loft.

The thing to remember that with a neutral grip, the back of the left hand represents the club face. So wherever the left hand is facing at impact that's where the ball will go. During practice focus on aiming the back of the left hand at the target, and also keeping it flat at impact. (see picture above) This way you'll trap the ball between the clubface and the turf, keeping the true loft of the club, resulting in a pure, powerful pin seeker time after time.

If you have any questions or comments, hit me back.

Cheers,

Weir to be inducted into Canadian Golf Hall

Later this month Mike Weir will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in Bright's Grove, Ont. Although some say Weir is still to young to be inducted, his resume speaks for itself. A resume that includes 8 PGA Tour wins, including the '03 Masters, Canada's first major, and a historic victory against Tiger Woods in the '07 President's Cup at Royal Montreal.

Cheers,

Wie/Woods claim victories

Well the long, and sometimes painful wait is finally over for Michelle Wie. Wie claimed her first title today at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico. In her 66th start on the LPGA tour, Wie birdied the 72nd hole to cliche the victory and the $220,000 first place cheque. Maybe now with the proverbial monkey off her back, Wie can begin to realize all the potential she possesses, I know the LPGA sure hopes so.

Oh, by the way Tiger also happened to win at the JBWere Masters in Melbourne Australia, his first in the country. Tiger shot a final round 68 to beat home town player Greg Chalmers by 2.

If you have any comments on Wie's win or her career to date, fire off a comment.

Cheers,

Tips from the Pro : Escape a sandy prison

Today I’m going to discuss the standard green side bunker shot. For most amateurs the bunker shot sends chills down the spine, due to fear of not knowing the proper technique.

Well here’s a few tips to help you extract your ball out of a sandy grave with as little pain as possible.

- Position the ball forward in your stance. (Closer to your left heel)
- Open the clubface, and then take your grip.
- Open your stance relative to the flag. (Feet and shoulders point left of flag)
- Point the clubface at the flag.
- Distribute more weight on your left side. (60/40)
- Swing down your shoulder line to full finish.
- Remember not to try to hit the ball. Strike the sand 2-3 inches behind the ball.

Hope these few simple tips help. Remember; don’t be afraid of the shot. Take these tips and get into the bunker with confidence.

Cheers,

Mickelson winner in Shanghai

Well looks like World number two Phil Mickelson is at the top of his game again. He held off a charging Ernie Els to win the WGC-HSBC Champions by one shot in Shanghai, China.

Phil shot a three-under-par 69 on what proved to be a dramatic day of golf. He finished at 17-under par to bag his second WGC title and a cheque for $1.2 million. Talk about a Christmas bonus.

Tiger Woods had a disappointing even par round of 72 to finish tied for 6th. Tiger can be seen again however this week as he tees it up in Australia.

Cheers,

Tiger in China

Hey guy's here's a vid to get you caught up on the WGC-HSBC Champions being held in Shanghai, China.

Cheers,

Pre-Christmas Christmas Sale

Thanks to everybody that visited our blog for our first month. Hope you enjoyed the posts. Here's one that you can really sink your teeth into and open your wallets for. The first annual Faddy Golf

Pre-Christmas Christmas Sale

Buy one Faddy shirt and get the second one FREE!!

Upon checkout (IN THE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS BOX) simply tell us what second shirt you would like...style, colour, size, etc. and we will send both out to you.
Sale EXPIRES November 30th, 2009.

Cheers,
Team Faddy

Tips from the Pro: Which ball is best for you?

When I’m teaching I’m often asked if a golf ball really makes a difference to over all performance. In short, Yes. This post is intended to help you pick the right ball based on three questions.


-What is you skill level (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
-How do you play (long/short hitter, hook/slice the ball, high/low ball flight)
-What do you want out of your ball (distance, feel, more/less spin)

Once these questions are answered you will be able to make a more educated purchase the next time you need to fill your golf bag with balls.

The Beginner:

As a beginner you are going to want to lean towards a two-piece distance ball. These balls have a harder cover to help reduce spin to lessen a hook or slice, produce a higher ball flight, and help you gain a few extra yards. These balls are also fairly cheap, so losing a few isn’t going to cause a breakdown. Nike Power Distance, Topflite XL, Pinnacle FX Long, Callaway Warbird are all good choices.

The Intermediate:

As your skill level improves so should the ball you play. A two-piece low compression/performance ball is a better fit then a distance ball. These balls have a larger core for added distance and a softer cover for improved feel around the greens. Bridgestone e5/e6, Maxfli Noodle, Titleist NXT, Pinnacle Platinum would fit into this category.

The Advanced:

Players at this stage are looking for a ball that provides benefits for all aspects of the game from tee-to-green. A multi-layer performance ball such as Titleist Pro V1/V1x, Callaway HX Tour, Bridgestone B330, and Nike One Platinum are the best you can get. Each layer enhances a specific part of your game, a Urethane cover for feel and spin, a firm mantle to increase energy transfer for distance, and added durability are the characteristics that will help your assault on par.

So next time you go to buy a dozen eggs take a few minutes and get the right ball for your game, don't just grab a hand full out of the experinced ball bin.

Cheers,

Freestyle Golf Tricks

Found this cool vid on youtube. I remember years back when Tiger did that Nike commerical, bouncing a golf ball on his wedge, everybody was amazed. This dude brings it to the next level. Check it out and enjoy.

Cheers,

Jer

Tips from the Pro: Say bye to the shank

If there's one word in golf that will send tremors down the spine of even the best of us, it's the SHANK. Most can't even bring themselves to utter the word. Well today I'll explain how it happens, and the cure for that dreaded screaming hosel rocket that darts right at an impossible angle.

The Problem:

Because the ball flies low and right, most golfers think that an excessively open club face is the culprit. But in fact it's usually an excessively closed clubface. The players swing path is out-to-in (in relation to the target line) with the club face closing hard at impact, both moves causing the hosel to creep closer to the ball. If the hosel catches the ball through impact, it's an ankle bitter to the right.

The Solution:

Try this easy drill on the range to help get your swing path back on track. Place a headcover just outside the ball, practice hitting wedges first. If your swing path is out-to-in, face closed, you'll hit the headcover. To miss it, you'll have to swing more from inside-to-out, with the face more open resulting in purer contact and eliminating the shank.

Hope this helps, and if you have any questions about the swing or drills to help fix a problem don't be afraid to ask.

Cheers,

Meet our Pros

Robbie Greenwell

Robbie Greenwell of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada is a graduate of The University of Memphis in Sports Management. He grew up and currently plays at The Club at North Halton also located in Georgetown. Robbie turned professional in September 2008 after a very successful Junior, Amateur and University career.

More recently Robbie has earned his 2010 playing card on the Canadian Tour, placing 3rd in qualifying school shooting a final round 65.

We are pumped that Robbie will continue to wear Faddy through 2010. So be sure to follow his progress right here, or through his website at www.robbiegreenwell.com

Thanks for a great first year Robbie.

Jason Landry

Jason earned a scholarship to play golf at Division 1 Stephen F Austin State University, in Texas and lettered four years. He had a decent college career with a few highlights such as finishing 3rd at the Sam Houston Bearcat Classic as a sophomore and earning Southland Conference Player of the Week honors for that particular week. That year he also placed 5th at the Southland Conference Championships. By the time he finished his college golf career Jason had amassed over 17 top 25 finishes along with 5 top tens in just a little over 30 tournaments.

Jason continues the play out of Texas and has just recently turned pro. He will be sporting Faddy in 2010. Be sure to follow his results here, and check out his website at www.jasonlandrygolf.com

If you have any questions for our young pros post a comment and we’ll fire it off to them.

Cheers,

Bunch of Balls / Bunch of Quotes

Here are a few memorable golf quotes that I'm sure we have all heard or read, but are always enjoyable to read again.

Enjoy

You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about.
- Bobby Jones

Many shots are spoiled at the last instant by efforts to add a few more yards.
- Bobby Jones

How did I make a twelve on a par five hole? It's simple. I missed a four-foot putt for an eleven.
- Arnold Palmer

It's a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get.
- Arnold Palmer

Keeping the head still is golf's one universal, unarguable fundamental.
- Jack Nicklaus

Don't be too proud to take a lesson. I'm not.
- Jack Nicklaus

There is an old saying: if a man comes home with sand in his cuffs and cockleburs in his pants, don't ask him what he shot.
- Sam Snead

You don't know what pressure is until you play for five bucks with only two bucks in your pocket.
- Lee Trevino

Don't play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty.
- Harry Vardon

Hit the shot you know you can hit, not the one you think you should.
- Dr. Bob Rotella

The mind messes up more shots than the body.
- Tommy Bolt

It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.
- Mark Twain

Missing a short putt does not mean you have to hit your next drive out of bounds.
- Henry Cotton

A "gimme" can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers, neither of whom can putt very well.
- Unknown

The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

It's easier to get up at 6:00 AM to play golf than at 10:00 to mow the yard

If there's a storm rolling in, you'll be having the game of your life.

Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.

Tips from the Pro: Grip

Today I'll go over some simple tips to help inprove your grip. Grip is probably the most important, yet most severly overlooked fundamental when trying to develop a sound swing. Alot of times when I'm teaching, poor contact, distance, and direction relates back to a poor grip.

Tip: Get your Grip back on track

- Never grip the club in the palm of the left hand. (left-handed golfer) The club should be gripped in the fingers. Ideally the grip should run diagonally across the left hand, from the first knuckle of the index finger to the base of the little finger. This provides the best combination of feel and control of the club head.

- Don't grip the club to tightly. Tension is a power sapper. Keep the grip pressure free and relaxed. A great tip to "feel" the proper pressure is to imagine holding a tube of toothpaste with the cap off. You want to hold it tight enough so it doesn't fall out of your hands, but not so tight that paste comes out of the tube.

- Adopt a neutral hand postion to square the club at impact. This is achieved when looking down at address the V's formed between the index fingers and thumbs of both hands point between your chin and right shoulder. (left-handed golfer) If the V's point to far to the right the grip is considered "strong" causing a hook, if the V's point left of the chin, the grip is considered "weak" causing a slice.

Hope these few simple tips help. If you have any questions or comments feel free to ask.

Cheers,

Jer

Faddy Photo Shoot

The Faddy team had a photo shoot for a business magazine yesterday. We were nominated for "best new start up company of 2009". Lets just say mother nature didn't want to make it easy. The rain was beating us into submission and the wind was howling, but we endured. Just another day in the life of a start up company. We took the picture ourselves with a tripod and a 5 second delay on the camera. Over all not bad.

This picture was taken just as hypothermia set in.

Cheers,

Topic of the Day: The President's Cup

Hey guys, we all know the President's Cup was last week at Harding Park, and we all know the US Team won it again.

My question is; What did you think about the competition? Did the deepest team win? Who were the stars on both sides? Which team from a fashion stand point looked better? Who surprised you the most by their great play/poor play?

Let us know,

Cheers

Tips From the Pro

Hey guys, my name is Jeremy. I'm co-owner of Faddy Golf and a Teaching Golf Pro. Every couple of days I'll post a new tip that will help your golf game, so check back often. Also if you have any questions about the swing, technique, or our company feel free to ask.

Cheers,

Tip: Playing in the Wind/Cold

Now that it's fall golfers everywhere have to deal with cold, windy conditions. Here's a few tips that should help you enjoy your round even when the wind is blowin'

- Use a softer compression ball. When it's cold the ball won't compress as much when hit. So the softer the cover on the ball the easier it is to compress and squeeze a few more yards out of.

- Take an extra club and try not to kill it. There's an old saying: "when it's breezy, swing easy". Taking one more club and swinging easier will help keep some spin off the ball, allowing it the cut through the wind more effectively.

- Tee the ball down lower. Not only will this help you hit the ball straighter, it will keep the trajectory of the ball down keeping it below the wind, and helping it run out for a few extra yards.

Hope these tips help. Remember to check back often for more "Tips from the Pro"

First Post

This blog is intended to razzle and dazzle the golf minded. If you're into stayin fresh with what's goin on in the golfing world, be it fashion, tips/tricks, video analysis and the everyday life of a start-up golf apparel company, then this blog is where you want to be.

Visit our Website at FADDY GOLF

Cheers,