I Strongly Dislike Cold Weather

Another cold, windy day in North Texas. Probably the coldest winter we've had in the last 10. The answer to the weather problem is to make lemonade from the lemons. It's been a perfect time to work out, swing the heavy club and visualize playing. Have you improved during the down time?

Phil surprised me with his victory at Pebble Beach. I didn't think he would win again after last summer. However, he worked hard over the break and has won my respect. Without Tiger in the field his victory is somewhat diminished, but a win is a win.

I am often asked what golf websites I frequent. The Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golf Channel sites are good. The instruction parts are good but be careful about trying to put them into your game. At best the instruction is more a band-aid then a cure. However, I find the fitness and health parts to be very helpful. The information is good and you can use the info and get better. The Geoff Mangrum putting website is the best golf site. You can spend weeks on his site.

Don't forget to get your mental game going as well. Dr. Rotella and Dr. Coop are time tested mental game coaches. The guy from Trust It Golf spoke at the NTPGA Annual Meeting on Monday. He had some good information, but I haven't taken the time to check out the website.

Also check out the website Deep, Slow, Easy Breathing. Excellent site with many avenues to explore. The family story is interesting along with the health and well being information.

If you have a favorite website, send an e-mail and let's check it out.

Thanks,
Mike Hurley

Notes from the Weekend

Lots of golf this weekend. Watching Tiger botch #10 and #11 in Dubai was amazing. I've never seen him look so normal. I saw parts of every round and in his defense he looked tired and lethargic the entire tournament.
After the fiasco to start the back nine, he finished 5 under the last 7 to end up in third. The guy never gives up. A lesson we can all learn.

The FBR Open was really wild. Most golfers will talk about Quinney's tee shot on #17, but I think he lost it on the greens. He missed four putts under 8 feet on the back nine after not missing any the first 63 holes. Not to mention the good opportunity on #12 he missed.

Aaron Baddeley was very impressive on the weekend. His swing is so much better than even last year. He missed two tee shots on the back nine and both missed right. Quinney missed three tee shots on the back and two of them went left. Top players avoid missing left like the plague.

Hank Haney says Tiger is paranoid about missing left. He could miss 10 shots right, miss one shot left and he will talk about is the one miss left and ignore the misses right.

My misses have always been left and it costs me dearly. I've learned why and am working on having my misses going right.

I have always tended to take my hands and the club away down the target line and away from my body instead of letting them swing in and up on the backswing. When this happens the face is closed and I have to reroute the club going forward. This brings the club into the ball too far from the inside and shallow. If you do this with the face closed you get a hook. My divots have always gone to the right of the target.

Working with the weighted club I've been swinging my hands in and up on the backswing and the face is no longer closed. The divots are going at or slightly left of the target.
This also makes it easier to maintain the loft of the club in the backswing on chips and pitches. This is very helpful on tight lies around the greens.

Here's a drill for you to try. Set up to make a practice swing. Have a club on the ground lying parallel to the target line just in front of your toes. Swing the club until the shaft is parallel to the ground. Look at the shaft and compare it to the club on the ground. It should be parallel to the club on the ground and close to being directly over it. Next check the grooves on the club. The grooves should point between 11:00 and 12:00 (If you are left handed, the grooves should point between 12:00 and 1:00.).

This is an excellent drill to do in the evenings. Make no more than 10 repititions at any one time. As with everything you do, do it with attention and intention.

Thanks,
Mike Hurley

Notes from North Texas
Yesterday was my parents' 58th wedding anniversary. I am blessed they are still alive and in good health. They escaped the cold of Michigan and moved to Bryan, Tx over 25 years ago. Can you see yourself selling your business, house and possessions and moving away from the only placed you've ever called home? They recognized the worsening economic conditions in Michigan and moved to a state with better economic prospects.

This year is my 35th high school reunion. Seems like a lifetime ago. Don't know if I'll make it back for this one. It's a long trip and I really don't keep in touch with anyone from high school.

Last Sunday and Monday I was at the Hank Haney Teaching the Teachers Seminar at the Hank Haney City Place in Dallas. I left with a new found respect for Hank and his approach to teaching. Both days were filled with instruction and Tiger Woods stories.

My favorite story is from last year's tournament in Boston. Tiger was not happy with his ball striking and called Hank after the third round. Hank gave him some advice and Tiger spent an hour and a half that evening practicing with a weighted club in front of a mirror. Sometime around 3:00 A.M., Tiger woke up and couldn't resist swinging the weighted club for another hour. After waking at 6:00, he spent another hour and a half in front of the mirror. He caught Vijay after three holes and won the tournament.

Tiger is all about improvement. Money is not his motivation. Listen to his comments from San Diego. Never mentions the Tour winning streak. It's about him getting better. He's just following a plan. Do you have a plan?

With the bad weather I've been working with a weighted club making slow swings. As Hank said, "If you can't make a slow swing, how are you going to swing fast?". Bad weather is a great time to work out and do cardio. Take advantage.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. Prediction: Colts 16, Bears 14.

Later,
Mike