18holeclub.com

What’s the difference between hitting a weak shot and a powerful one? It’s synchronization. If the key movements in your swing aren’t synchronized, they will be out of sequence and you’ll hit a weak shot. If they are synchronized, your movements will be in sequence and you’ll hit a powerful shot.

Nowhere is synchronization more critical that in your downswing. Two body parts—the right hand and the right knee—must start the downswing simultaneously and at similar pace for you to produce a power-laden swing, whether you are using a driver, a wedge, or a middle iron.

 Here are five keys to starting your downswing:

* Keep head still
* Avoid sliding forward
* Start right hand/right knee in unison
* Point hand/knee toward ball
* Stay behind the ball

The key to executing a good downswing is synchronizing the movement of your right knee and your right hand. Having completed the backswing, you should move these two body parts by first turning your right hand and right knee slightly toward the ball and then starting them downward in unison and at the same pace.

Unfortunately, some golfers start their downswing with the right knee only. Their hands and arms trail their body as it moves toward the target. To square the clubface and hit a good shot, these golfers must manipulate the club with their hands at the last second or they’ll hit the ball to the right of the target.

Other golfers are all arms. They make and out-to-in downswing with very little body movement. This is known as “casting” because it resembles an angler casting with a rod and reel. This becomes a slice or pull, neither of which is what the golfer intended when he began his shot.

If you want to get more power from your swing, start your downswing with your right and knee in synchronizations. Doing so eliminates the need to make last minute adjustments to your swing to square the clubface to the ball. You’ll find yourself hitting the ball farther and straighter.

From How to Break 80 newsletter

Anybody seeing the fact that Vijay is no longer a force in golf?  Although he won last year a couple of tournaments it seems he has lost the momentum that had him the #1 golfer just a few years ago.  His latest is a meltdown on the back nine at Pebble to lose in a playoff over the weekend.  Is it age?  Has he started on the downslide as you get in the mid forties?  He had a big lead and bogeyed three holes in a row on the back nine to lose it then needed a birdie on the last hole even to force a playoff.  I don’t think he will stay in the upper eschelon of golf much longer.  He still has game just not the type he had when he overtook Tiger.

Tiger Woods 2, field 0, this time from 4 back.  Ernie Els 3 year plan to overtake Tiger hit a snag.  Dubai belongs to Tiger once again and he is loving it.  Can you imagine what this year may look like?  I know he will take a loss this year but I can definately see him going .500 on the year and winning 10 tournaments.  Hey Ian Poulter…next time you speak before you think put a sock in your mouth.  76 on Sunday ain’t gettin er dun, Tiger shot 65 dude!

I think the Buick Invitational needs to change it’s name to Tiger tune-up challenge.  He easily blew away the field by 8 shots over Imada from Japan.  No sunday drama here just one opened can of whoopass.  I have to admit I am a fan and love when he destroys the field.  Here’s hoping for the Grand Slam…go Tiger!

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson renew their rivalry today at the Buick Open.  Teeing it up for the first time in 2008 both expect big years.  Tiger has even made the comment that the Grand Slam is within reach this year….I don’t know about that but I never count him out of it either.

Award for the worst golf website ever is……..Golf Digest!  I understand the need to put information on your main page but come onnnnnnnn.  That site is utterly rediculous, it makes my eyes sore just seeing it once.  Maybe they should talk to my good friends at Site-Spring.com, they know what they are doing. 

Nike took a credibility hit on the golf equipment scene recently.  In the latest comparison tests by golfs biggest magazines, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, not one Nike ball made best of the best.  Nike Platimum was the closest scoring as a distant second tier in both comparisons.  This is a big blow to Nike who is doing its best to unseat the current golf ball leader Titleist.  Thankfully they recieved better reviews on the Sumo and Sumo2 driver which ranks highly in both magazines.  Maybe they are catering to Tiger a little two much in terms of what he likes in a golf ball.  The masses are what drives golf equipment sales so build us a ball that works and doesn’t need a gimicky sales pitch to win us over (aka Nike Ignite).  Ahhhh but that is the best thing Nike does, marketing!

Trahan locked up his second career victory shooting 7 under in the final round.  He trailed Justin Leonard by 4 strokes and ended up winning by 3.  Leonard finished second which follows a strong start for him this year after placed 8th at the Mercedes Championship.  Trahan plans to buy property following his big win and said it would be for hunting.

2008 will introduce a new form of golf club customization.  TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, Ping, Nickent and Titleist all announced upcoming clubs in which you will be able to change out shafts as easily as changing the weight configuration on the TaylorMade Quad drivers.  The advantage supposedly is that you will be able to use certain types of shafts depending on the conditions you are playing in or you will be able do demo shafts easily to find the one that is right for you.  The USGA worked closely with these companies to have rules in place which will allow changing shafts during tournaments as long as it is not during a round.  Will this in fact help the average golfer?  In my opinion no due to the tremendous change in technology in clubs already and the average golfer still shooting the same scores as they did back in the 70’s.  That said I still think it will be fun to try.

Choi went wire to wire with a victory in Hawaii this past weekend.  Showing 2007 was no fluke he took down Rory Sabatinni and company by shooting 13 under par.  Many are predicting him as a favorite to win the Masters this year in April.  Nike made a good move in picking him up in sponsorship and if he continues to play well this year will start making the big bucks along side of Tiger.