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Let us discuss achieving the perfect impact, the perfect moment’s outcome of a disciplined ‘5 Set-Ups’ (Posture, Grip, Stance, Ball Location & Alignment) and ‘Pre Shot-Routine’. (PSR) This includes an efficient blend of the ‘Physiological and Psychological’ (Physical & Mental)!

Whenever we spend time working on our golf swing, any aspect of it, we are really working on achieving the perfect impact position and sequences … static and dynamic, potential and kinetic. We must, somehow, get the ‘Sweet Spot Of The Clubface’ (‘Center Of Mass, Moment Of Impact Event or Coefficient Of Restitution’) precisely delivered to the ‘Ballistic Point or the Bottom Inside Cheek Of The Golf Ball’. (BIC) (see ‘Inside-Out Clubhead Path’ or ‘Swing Radius’ … ‘The Physics Of Rotation and The Geometry Of The Circle’)

‘Pure Impact Conditions’ is a consistent universal golf challenge ‘Putting To Driving’.

I was going to title this article ‘A GOOD CASE OF THE YIPS’, but I have never seen a ‘Good One’!

The ‘Yips’ are generally ‘Involuntary Musculo-Skeletal Movements’ or spasm in varying degrees. It is logical to refer to them as ‘Twitches’ but there are many of these descriptive names that suffice or apply. Many very normal golfers (who perform well) struggle from time to time just ‘Triggering The Stroke Pattern’. They cannot accomplish a smooth ‘Take-Away’.

Let us see if we cannot provide two methodologies that might help any ‘Yipper’ improve and avoid this affliction?

1) Can’t Pull The Trigger … If this applies to you, when you take that ‘Last Look Down The Line’ (DTL) and return back to the ball, you will do so at a natural pace. If it happens to be 5 Feet Per Second, do that as a ‘Routine’. Here is the ‘Magic Key’ that might help.

When this author – teacher thinks about his chest, that includes from the ‘Hip Girdle or Socket Axis’ up and through the Trunk and Abdomen including the ‘Shoulder Axis and Shoulder Sockets’. (see ‘The 13 Human Primary Articulating Joints’)(see ‘Pivot Core’).

If at any time during the ‘Golf Back & Up or Down & Out Swings’ you find your ‘Chest’ pointing upwards or facing the heavens, you are out of position and flirting with trouble. Your ‘Pivot Axis’ will have been compromised along with your ‘Ball Flight Outcome’.

We have a physical instruction that refers to ‘Covering The Ball’. It means that we keep our Sternum and Breast Logo facing the ball when the Lever Assemblies (Hands, Wrists and Arms) are in the ‘Bottom Half Of The Swing Circle’ moving in either direction.

I know we have discussed this topic in the past and not the too far distant past, but the topic came up in e-mails 23 times in the last two weeks. Thus, it is neither mute nor decided dynamics. (see ‘Motion Law’) It is an open topic apparently worthy of more consideration?

Address ready is ‘Static In Componentry’. It is very neutral and is what your ‘555 Team’ refers to as ‘Tap Tap Tap’. It is when we simply just hold onto the golf club handle and tap the floor in front of our belly buttons … vertical action and no ‘Horizontal Thrust’. (see lateral pressure)

To make a golf ball ‘Go Away’ we need to create ‘Compression and Line Of Compression’. (see ‘Force Lines’ and ‘Doing Work with a golf tool against a ‘Little White Ball’.) Work is a Force Through A Distance.

There is so much conversation about ‘Hip or LBM Lead and Clubhead or UBM Lag’ that the following perspective might help you better grasp these important physicalities. Let’s find out!

Envision having a powerful ‘Laser Beam’ in the butt of your golf grip such that it shines out of the small breather hole in the bottom of that handle.

At Address Ready or Impact Fix, the ‘Laser Beam’ shines in the vicinity of your Sternum to your Target Shoulder Socket. Stand up and Set-Up using your imagination! You will see for yourself!

We all know how important ‘Making Putts’ is in the grand scheme of playing and scoring in golf. This simplest, foundational stroke is responsible for between 35% and 50% of you carded numbers. Your ‘Short Game’ is another 15% to 20%. How many golfers have made more than 40 or even 50 putts in a single round of 18 holes? Improving on that stat is so very easy and predictable. What is preventing your ‘Working Smart’ at putting better?

Remember, ‘A Chip Is A Putt With A Hop!’ Thus, working on your ‘Putting’ invariably helps making Chips and even Bump & Runs. “Pitter Patter, Better Get At ‘Er!”

Things to do while preparing and putting in the wind …

1. Use your very smart ‘8 Step Putting & Chipping Pre-Shot Routine’ (PSR)

Currently touted as the ‘New Approach’ created by Bryson DeChambeau and Mike Schy, his coach, is simply not true!

For years our family owned I.R.G.O. golf stores in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada and North Western Washington, U.S.A. and were one of the biggest custom fitting and repair stations in this international region.

Our very creative and capable fitting, assembly and repair staff, along with the teaching staff, entertained the idea of ‘Single Length Irons’ in the mid 80’s. Initially, we started making ‘All Wedges The Same Length’. That was both logical and very successful. This made a little heavier ‘Swing Weights’ but we adjusted that with ‘Shaving or Machining The Hozels’ to reduce their ‘Dead Weight’. (Mass)

The only lasting favour which a teacher
may confer on the student
is that of helping the student understand
and then to help himself enjoy outcomes!

Converting Extrinsic Discipline to Intrinsic
in the form of Behaviour is central.

The rewards shall be immediate and commensurate!
They will stimulate more of the same!

“Behaviour which achieves desirable consequences
shall recur!”

Thomas & Skinner

Pretty common topic of golf conversation? “How can I get off the beach without a bucket, shovel and perhaps a rake?”

There are only three elements … 1) Bottom Of Swing Arc … BOSA, 2) adequate LOFT and 3) enough Clubhead Speed.

1. BOSA for Bunker Work demands a precision bottom accomplished under a Tallish Chin with Longish Arms or ‘Lever Assemblies’. If we have control of the Tallish Chin and Hands, Wrists & Arms Length, we will have reasonable control of ‘Down Force’ and ‘Impact & Separation’. Make that “THUMP” when you hit the sand!
2. Adequate LOFT is simply about ‘Club Selection’. ‘Loft’ is your friend. Remember your #SW has generally got the most ‘Bounce’, which helps us not strike the sand overly fat. We do not want to dig a ditch! There is a procedure of what we refer to as ‘Open Open’ … Open Clubface Aim and Open Alignment. I am not a big fan until I have run out of ‘Loft’. I don’t like ‘Side Spin’ if I can avoid it!

Short Game

The primary task when you are still ‘Off The Green’ is to ‘Get the ball on the Dance Floor behaving like a Putt as soon as possible’. Might I add that you must truly believe in yourself!

When out in the ‘Approach Zone’ we should focus precisely on the 5/10/15 Foot Circles. From there we can make good things happen more often than not! Smaller circles make for improved ‘Putting Stats’.

When out in the ‘Approach Zone’ we will be well-served to ‘Quadrant The Greens’. By that, your 555 Team means ‘Gunsighting The Green’ or breaking it into ‘Four Quadrants’ of approximately the same area or size. (see ‘Cross Hairs’)