Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Pat O'Brien Putting: A Right Brained Approach to GolfPat O'Brien PuttingTour-Proven Golf LessonsHomeDVDAboutArchivesSubscribe� Pics and Videos from Pebble |Main| Right Brained Approach, Part II �June 25, 2010A Right Brained Approach to Golf
The following is another article I wrote for Korean Magazine Golf Guide and Golf Guide USA. �I am honored to write for them and share my philosophies with the wonderful Korean people. �I cannot wait to return!
The Key to GolfI would like to take this month�s topic away from putting and share with you what I believe is the secret to golf.� When you practice a few simple things away from the golf course, every aspect of your game will improve, from putting through the long game.� When you can learn to balance your body and perform the simple task of tossing a ball, you will be able to play this great game without the anxiety of swing thoughts.� Allow me to explain�There is a fairly good chance you have spent your time in golf only swinging in one direction.� If you play right handed, you rotate with force to the left towards your target.� The right hip and pelvis rotate up and forward.� Over time, your muscles get out of balance.� It is common for me to see someone�s right hip higher at address,�
�which tends to open the shoulders as well.� This can also lead to the right leg being shorter than the left, which causes excessive tilt, especially in putting. �The simplest way to correct this is to rotate the other way.� First, I would pivot with a club across your shoulders.
�
��Do it gently at first, and gradually start to go faster as you feel your body open up.� If you still have difficulty, consult a qualified trainer for assistance.When you can make a full turn on your left handed backswing, then you can stay in your posture and rotate freely and quickly as you come through the ball right handed.�
��If you have problems hooking the ball, this exercise is invaluable for you. Your body will not slow down through impact, therefore the club head will not pass your hands. �When you can rotate through left handed with speed, then your right handed backswing will improve.� The easiest way to keep the club in front of you, as you have been taught,�
is to have your torso turn freely and quickly on the backswing.� If your torso is tight going that way, your arms are more likely to outrace your chest, which lets the clubhead get too inside.�
As you bring your body back into balance, you will then be able to more easily execute the correct sequence in your golf swing, as I alluded to in the previous paragraph.� All you need is a ball that weighs a few pounds.First, gently pull your shoulders down and tighten your stomach and core.� Feel like your arms are very passive.�
��As you make a turn away from the target in preparation for tossing the ball,�
�notice how your torso is almost fully coiled and your arms are still in front of you.� It would be very awkward to have your arms go faster than your chest.�
�It is the same sequence for swinging a club.� If your arms and wrist joints are relaxed, the club will then travel up the plane line because that is what it is designed to do.�
��This is your backswing.As you move forward to toss the ball, it is natural to first shift onto your front leg,�
�and then rotate through.
��This is the kinematic sequence for your downswing.� It is no more complicated than that!� This move allows your arms time to drop in your swing, and it moves the bottom of arc forward, which in turn compresses the ball�
Balance your body to free it up and incorporate a natural motion into your golf swing, and you will play the best golf of your life!
The second part of the article expands upon these concepts. �I will post soon...��
Posted by Pat O'Brien on June 25, 2010 in Fundamentals | PermalinkDigg This | Save to del.icio.us Comments
It appears your head is moving when you are using the yellow ball exercise. It should not, correct? It should be steady.
Posted by:Mikel Reynolds |June 28, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Mikel,
Thank you for the comment. I would offer to you that Annika Sorenstam and David Duval, who were both #1 in the world, moved their heads significantly through impact. If it is about freedom of motion, then you should allow things to move. Trying to keep your head still leads to unnecessary tension and possible injury.
Posted by:Pat O'Brien |June 28, 2010 at 06:47 PM
Very good point. You are reminding me to relax and let the club do the work.
Posted by:J Mikel Reynolds |June 30, 2010 at 11:20 PM
I sincerely appreciate your instruction articles. I'm trying to get better. One question, do you think changing direction--shifting left while the upperbody continues right--is important. I watch MLB pitchers and that motion seems central to throwing speed. Shouldn't it be the same in golf?
Posted by:Channing w |July 13, 2010 at 04:17 AM
Channing,
I absolutely think that this happens. When you practice kinematic sequence by tossing a ball, you are practicing this motion without thinking about it. When a golf ball is in front of you, thinking about that would lead to pressure to perform it and consequently anxiety. Plus, a downswing takes .3 seconds and it takes .4-.6 seconds (if you have good reaction time) for our brain to send a signal to a body part and have it respond. Therefore, there is no time to think in a swing. By the way, the Orange Whip is the best training aid that I have seen to teach sequence. It lets you feel it without thought.
Thanks for reading,
Pat
Posted by:Pat O'Brien |July 14, 2010 at 04:00 PM
Thanks you, Pat. That is a great point--and total common sense. I read so much about the golf swing that I sometimes have trouble trusting my own instincts.
I'd like to get your opinion about something else IYDMind. I've been watching tape of my swing compared to pros about my size and build. I noticed that they are keeping their spine angle well beyond Impact. My thing is when I try to stay down into it through the followthrough it's so restrictive that I have balance issues coming up. When I focus on a straight right arm, high followthru I come out of it early. I tried practicing opposite handed and it helped but Ive got no chance to stay down into it as long as,say, AnthonyKim.
Is this a matter of pure flexibility, or are there things I can do at address to allow me to stay Down through impact and still have a full followthrough?
Posted by:Channing w |July 20, 2010 at 03:14 AM Verify your Comment Previewing your CommentPosted by: �|�
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
Your comment could not be posted. Error type: Your comment has been posted. Post another comment The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
![]()
Post a comment (URLs automatically linked.)
Your Information
(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)
Name is required to post a comment
Please enter a valid email address
Invalid URL
Pat O'Brien is the putting coach of two of the PGA Tour�s best putters, 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson and Ryder Cupper Vaughn Taylor.This blog will share Pat�s advice, expertise and drills for superior short game performance based on his coaching with renowned tour pros, accomplished amateurs and everyday golfers.
Contact me: pat@patobriengolf.com
Tel: 214.316.5303
Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
�Subscribe in a reader
Categories60% Improves GameFundamentalsMyths of PuttingPlayer NewsPutting DrillsPutting Mental SideTour NewsRecent PostsRight Brained Approach, Part IIA Right Brained Approach to GolfPics and Videos from PebblePutting AlignmentWant to putt like Zach Johnson? Here�s how - www.golfweek.comZach's Grip Zach is BackPlay Your Best Golf - www.texaslinksmagazine.comGet The Most Out of Your Golf LessonsMy Trip to Japan
Photo Album #flickr_badge_source_txt {padding:0; font: 11px Arial, Helvetica, Sans serif; color:#666666;}#flickr_badge_icon {display:block !important; margin:0 !important; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;}#flickr_icon_td {padding:0 5px 0 0 !important;}.flickr_badge_image {text-align:center !important;}.flickr_badge_image img {border: 1px solid black !important;}#flickr_www {display:block; padding:0 10px 0 10px !important; font: 11px Arial, Helvetica, Sans serif !important; color:#3993ff !important;}#flickr_badge_uber_wrapper a:hover,#flickr_badge_uber_wrapper a:link,#flickr_badge_uber_wrapper a:active,#flickr_badge_uber_wrapper a:visited {text-decoration:none !important; background:inherit !important;color:#3993ff;}#flickr_badge_wrapper {background-color:#F2F2F2;}#flickr_badge_source {padding:0 !important; font: 11px Arial, Helvetica, Sans serif !important; color:#666666 !important;}www.
flickr.com
View the original article here
