Joel Suggs GOLF...SUCCESS Blog

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'What 5 Golf Things Do I Need To Schedule For 2010?'

I've answered this fantastic SAQ for you - this way for many years.

To fully experience GOLF...SUCCESS I suggest you accurately schedule your: Play, Practice, Competition, Instruction and Rest.

1 - PLAY  Decide how much you'd like to play in 2010.  Also decide which courses you'll play and how often at each one.  Deciding who you will play with - will also make your rounds more enjoyable and more effective.

2 - PRACTICE  Where will you practice?  Which Range might be good for your Full Swing?  A different facility might be better for your Short Game.  Can you practice on a Course near you?  What can you do for practice at your house?  After deciding these things, your scheduling of your practice will become more fun and much more relevant to your Golf Game.

3 - COMPETITION  Get out your Tournament schedule from last year and decide if you liked it.  Did you have too many or too few?  Do you wish you would have played in a different event or two?  Do you need to plan family and work schedules better to get in those couple of events you missed last year?  If you are a very competitive golfer, I'd suggest doing this scheduling before the two items above.

4 - INSTRUCTION  As I mentioned yesterday, you want to realize that you probably take golf instruction from a large number of sources.  Which ones are good for you?  Which of those sources know you ?...your Game?  Johnny Miller's a nice guy, but he probably does not know your Golf Game real well.  The same can probably be said...

Cincinnati Junior Golf - A Nice E-Mail I Received Today From US Kids Golf

 

Congratulations!

 

Joel Suggs

 

Because of your exemplary dedication to the growth and development of kids golf you have been selected as a

2009 U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher

 

Thank you very much...A few weeks ago I asked a few of you to pen a letter of recommendation to this group

I was honored to have you write such kind words about me - and the efforts I make to help your children learn our great game of golf.

Again, Thank You!

 

 

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Can I Plan My 2010 Golf Lessons?'

Fortunately, you have asked a very good question.  This is definitely a SAQ, that many folks would benefit from.

Just yesterday, with an avid player, whom I've helped for about 5 years - he and I came up with this answer for him;

2 TPI Golf Fitness Evaluations / Lessons

3 GolfPsych Planner Updates

4 'Play With the Pro' Playing Lessons

2 Golf Equipment Tests / Alterations

1 'Videoing Your Own Swing' Training

6 Traditional Golf Lessons (Topics As Needed)

10 TPI 3D Video Swing-Cheks (15 minutes)

GOLF...SUCCESS On-Line Academy (24/7)

Now this Player is more avid than most golfers I know.  He has also improved more than most golfers I know.

He is typical of the folks - like yourself - that I help, though.

He's a typical golfer that I help in these ways.

He is a 'good learner'.  He is honest and humble, with me and himself.  He dislikes meaningless golf practice - and loves relevant golf practice.  He listens very well, to me and himself.  He understands, with increasing effectiveness, that improving the Golf Swing is only a portion of GOLF...SUCCESS.  He believes, as I do, that he is responsible for his golf game - not me;......Joel is just...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'What Can I Do Indoors To Improve My Golf Game?'

I remember reading Jack Nicklaus' autobiography, Golf My Way.

I read it over and over again.  I read it in the Billings, Montana Public Library, in the dead of Winter during my Junior and Senior years of High School.  Of course, I had plenty of time to dream about warm Summer days, cooped up in that Library cubicle, with snow swirling outside the window.

My dad said they only had 3 seasons out there: July, August and Winter.  He was not far off.

Today's SAQ, Should've Asked Question, is a rarely asked question.  But when you understand its answer you will really enjoy seeing lower scores.  Your depth of knowledge about Golf in general, and your Golf Game in particular, will be greatly expanded.

In addition to reading golf instructional books, golf biographies seem to fit especially well into a Winter golf schedule. It's like you 'get to know' the person over the Winter, when you can't really try the things the instructional books prescribe.

Bobby Jones and Byron Nelson each have very good first-person accounts of their playing days, that help you get 'inside the head' of a golf master.  Both of the books go into great detail.  They describe the author's line of reasoning and decision-making as they matured into better and better players - and persons...fantasically valuable stuff for you as you seek to continually improve.

As I mentioned a few days ago, another thing you can do indoors...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'Where Will My Improvement Come From?'

Another wonderful Christmas Day is in the books at the Suggs household.

I hope and trust yours went well, with your family.

Most notable at ours: my little brother arrived from Bosra, Iraq for the last time.  He will no longer go over there anymore.  He's done.

The Army allowed him to get home to his wife late in the evening on Christmas Eve.  He then surprised his children on Christmas morning with his presence.

We have thanked God for his safety.

The SAQ above will help you in 2010.  Keep asking this one.

it will get you 'barking up the right tree' instead of - giving your mental, physical and financial effort to parts of your Golf Game that do not matter.

The GOLF...SUCCESS Round Statistics Chart I mentioned to you a few days ago willl become your springboard for this improvement.  It becomes especially relevant when...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Much Can I Improve...Really?'

I like this SAQ.

Yet often, when you ask this question, you do not know what you're really asking.

To see how much - and how quickly - you can improve, look at the photos and videos from the last few days here.

All those photos of golf swings were taken in the same Golf Lesson.  You can imorove very much and quickly.

Yet the real topic to consider - the really good SAQ is - 'How Will I Know If I've Improved, Joel?'

Many times you will not recognize your GOLF...SUCCESS.  It comes gradually and 'over time'.

You will know you've improved,...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'Besides My Golf Swing, What Else Can I Improve In The Winter?'

I really like this SAQ. 

It indicates that you have an interest in the many 'other aspects' of the game.  Improving these 'other aspects' will often lower your golf score - more - than improving your Golf Swing.

For Instance, one 'other aspect' can be your 'Golf Clubs'.

While I have been on Staff with Taylor-Made for many years; as this photo displays, I help you with many different brands of top-line golf clubs. 

The first step for you, if you really are becoming a Serious Player, is to learn what your present golf equipment consists of. 

What is the exact bend in your Golf Clubs?  This refers to the 'Frequency' rather than the 'Flex' of the golf shaft you currently have.

You'll learn about that by watching this process described here.

I also help you learn the 'Swingweight', 'Total Weight' and 'Lie Angle' of your present golf club set.

Once you've learned what your Golf Club Set really consists of, then you can begin to more thoroughly understand what might be good for you to consider in the future, if anything.  Maybe your current golf club set really is just right for your Golf Game.

At that point you - if needed - begin to look...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Can Hot Mulled Apple Cider Help My Golf Game?'

Well it probably cannot help your Golf Game - BUT that great aroma of Darlene's Hot Mulled Apple Cider...on Tuesday and Wednesday, will lead you to the Indoor Golf Studio at Meadow Links & Golf Academy.

That's where you will get your FREE 15-minute TPI 3D Video Swing-Chek...call 825-3701 for your appointment.

This quick snapshot of your Golf Swing will be my Christmas Golf Gift to you.

I am very thankful that I get to do what I love as a vocation, as my Dad and Aunt did before me...and their Dad, my Granpa, did before them.

I'm also very thankful to pass this - revered and honorable game - on to my children and their friends, and other youngsters.

Granpa, Johnny Suggs, built his first Golf Course in Lithia Springs, Georgia.  He did this with 'Jack The Mule' technology and in the middle of the Great Depression.

The 'Lithia Water' at the spring there was recognized as having medicinal uses.  It became a little resort the 'City Slickers' from Atlanta would frequent.

My dad, Rell Jackson Suggs and my Aunt Sis grew up watering the greens by hand and caddying and playing golf.  They often practiced by taking turns hitting batches of balls at each other - catching them with a baseball glove in mid-air or on the first bounce.

Granpa was a left-handed fastball pitcher for the Atlanta Crackers, so I'm sure finding a baseball glove was no problem.  He married the team owner's daughter, Margeurite Spiller.

Granma watched the Pro Shop.

I bet there were some great aromas arising from her kitchen at the Golf Course.

One of the most cherished memories...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Can I Improve My Golf Ball-Flights In The Winter?'

Yesterday things got really snowy here in Cincinnati for Golf Lessons.

Yet - the current 2-time Ohio High School Champion...a couple members of the St. Xavier High School Golf team that finished 2nd at the Ohio High School Golf Tournament...a Taylor High School Golf team member and...a member of the Kettering Alter High School team that finished 2nd for the smaller schools in Ohio... still kept working on their Golf Games with me at Meadow Links & Golf Academy.

No snow in our Indoor Golf Studio...Any wonder these are the type Players that play so well and win so much in the Summer?

There's even a little humor for you in this video.

In addition to my ideas from yesterday for ways you can improve your Golf Swing 'On The Video'; let me give you some ways you can improve...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Can I Improve My Golf Game In The Winter'

What a beautiful snowfall we have this morning in Cincinnati, as I prepare to give you Golf Lessons all day.  I Sure am glad Meadow Links & Golf Academy provides us a huge Indoor Studio to keep 'plowing through the snow' with your Golf Game.

In my answer to this very good SAQ yesterday, we discussed how to get constructively mad.

This helpful and patient anger is the base-line for relevant Golf Improvement in the Winter.  The things you do, at first, will seldom seem very exciting.  Your determination though, based on the emotion we discussed yesterday, will enable you to 'keep going' through the seemingly endless cold, dreary days of Winter.

'HOW' To Improve?

I've seen so many ways - it would take me pages upon pages to describe all of them.  So I have to choose just one topic for now.

Let's choose...

21 Golf ?s of Christmas - SAQ - 'How Can I Improve My Golf Game In The Winter?'

 

Now this is a fantastic 'Right Question'.  This is definitely an SAQ, Should've Asked Question - for many golfers who struggle to play well in the Summer.

Above, you see one of our PGA Assistant Professionals, whom I've helped for about 8 years, practicing under the Heaters during a foggy early-Winter snow storm.  We work at Meadow Links & Golf Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio...one of the 'Top 100 Ranges In America' every year since 1993.

When I worked in South Florida, tournament players from Florida actually lamented that Northern Golfers were more 'fresh' than them.   These Florida Golfers complained that they worked on their Golf Game year-round and 'got stale' in the Summer, when all the big Tournaments happen.

The 'grass is always greener on the other side', eh?  Even for golfers.

After getting over my initial shock at this complaint from the Florida Golfers, I began to give it some value. 

And now, since 1999, I've seen many of my Golf Students make great improvements in their Golf Game while snow and ice have been on the ground.

Jack Nicklaus, from Ohio and Tom Watson, from Missouri apparently figured this out, didn't they?

There are a huge number of things you can make better.  You can improve your Golf Thinking, Golf Fitness, Golf Swing, Golf Equipment - your Drive, Approach, Pitch, Chip, Putt.

The rub is, 'How?'

Many of the Players I help who have improved so much in the Winter have a great desire.  They really want to humbly and thoroughly admit their specific golf weaknesses.

Then they get mad - in a very controlled and constructive manner.  They see...

TPI 3D Video Swing-Cheks For You - FREE This Coming Week

I hope you can join me.

Call 513 825-3701 to set your Appointment.  My Present Students will also receive special discounts...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQs - "Can Video Help Cure MY Golf Slice?"

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!

The funniest 'seriously intended' reaction I've ever had to a Golf Student seeing their Golf Swing on Video?

It happened in Jacksonville about 15 years ago on a typically warm Florida afternoon:

"That fella's heavier than me, Joel...where am I?"

While YOU are the only one who can cure YOUR Golf Slice, Video can definitely help.

The last few days, you have learned the 2 Main Characteristics of a Golf Slice: 1) An 'Above-The Plane' downswing path...remember the yellow graphics and blue graphics?...and 2) An 'Improperly-Timed' release of the clubface.

So, I know those photos can help you...BUT...

If 'a Picture is worth a thousand words' then 'a Video is worth ten-thousand words'.

Now you will see a great Golf Animation Video - that very accurately depicts what you do in your Golf Swing when you Slice the ball.

I know this Video, combined with...

21 Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQs - How Can I Tell If I'm A Good Putter?

I've never heard this question form a Student...so this stands very high in the rankings of my SAQ - 'Should've Asked Questions'.

Harvey Penick said the main thing to do to become a good putter was - to eat dinner with better putters.  That's what he told one of his students once.

This suggestion conveys what we all know - that there is a certian ambiguity and mystery involved in putting...and especially trying to measure the 'goodness' of it - in our game or someone else's

Ben Crenshaw and Nancy Lopez always ranked very high in the Putting Category in their careers through the 1970s and 1980s.  This was largely because the Tours...

Golf ?s Of Christmas - SAQs - So, What's The Other Thing That Causes MY Slice?

Again, to deflect your Golf question - and direct your attention to the effective place...

The other main characteristic, not neccessarily a cause, of 'Your Slice' is the lack of a properly-timed release of the clubface on the downswing.

This Golf Video-Frame shows the huge difference this Player made in his swing - in just a few minutes...

 

He worked on his downswing plane, what we discussed yesterday, for about 15 minutes of the 45-minute Golf Lesson.  He did very well with that.

I then simply asked him to...