Greetings Golfers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abraham Lincoln had a lot of great quotes. One of my favorites is this: \u201cI would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this week\u2019s blog, I want to write about too many things \u2026 it would be a rambling mess if I just let loose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So – following Abe\u2019s advice – I\u2019ll try to keep it short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want to talk about the Masters \u2026 and Dustin Johnson\u2019s swing \u2026 and course design \u2026 and the difference between \u201cswingers\u201d and \u201chitters\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As usual, the Masters was fantastic. Though I\u2019ve never been a big DJ fan \u2026 I\u2019m glad he won. He\u2019s lost some real heart-breakers in Majors \u2026 and being #1 in the world comes with intense expectations \u2026 his victory just seemed right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DJ is #1 because he does everything well: hits it far and straight \u2026 hits his irons close \u2026 and has a great short game. His swing is not classic – he\u2019s what I would call a \u201chitter\u201d. Hitters are punchers – like boxers. If you\u2019re going to punch someone \u2026 you\u2019d use your right-hand and shift your weight back & forth \u2026 more weight shift than body-turn \u2026 you\u2019d have more \u201csmash factor\u201d than \u201carm speed\u201d. If you\u2019d slap someone really hard \u2026 you\u2019d use the back of your left-hand and turn more than shift your weight \u2026 and have more \u201carm speed\u201d than \u201csmash factor\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m sure you can see the analogies to being a golf \u201chitter\u201d or \u201cswinger\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the giveaways to DJ\u2019s \u201chitting\u201d action: he closes the club face on his backswing and is shut at the top. Lee Trevino did the same thing. He just wasn\u2019t as big and strong and flexible as DJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That action works because he is young, strong, and very flexible. If he wasn\u2019t as young, strong, and flexible as he is \u2026 he wouldn\u2019t be a very good player \u2026 much less #1 in the world. If you want to copy his action, you\u2019d better have those same qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However \u2026 even if you\u2019re old, weak, and stiff \u2026 you can be a hitter on short iron shots and chipping and putting. But, on longer shots – especially a driver – you need to be a swinger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DJ\u2019s action works on long shots because he\u2019s a physical freak. Most of us need both actions – hitting and swinging – because we aren\u2019t Dustin Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice swinging your driver with your left-hand only. And rotate the club face open on the back swing \u2026 and then close it on the downswing through the ball to the finish. That\u2019s how to learn to hit a baby draw that starts right and falls left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practice chipping with your right-hand only. And don\u2019t flip your wrist or rotate it. Keep your wrist flexed backwards as you make contact \u2026 and keep it flexed after you hit the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abe just tapped me on the shoulder. I have to wrap this up. I\u2019ll talk more about these subjects over the Holidays. In the meantime \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Happy Thanksgiving! Greetings Golfers, Abraham Lincoln had a lot of great quotes. One of my favorites is this: \u201cI would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time\u201d. For this week\u2019s blog, I want to write about too many things \u2026 it would be a rambling mess if I just let loose. So … Continue reading Long, Straight Golf Shots not Long, Boring Blogs<\/span>
Tom Abts
GM\/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com<\/a>
Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com<\/a>
www.facebook.com\/DeerRunGolf<\/a>
www.twitter.com\/DeerRunGolfClub<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"