vol. 4, number 10

In This Issue

Game Improvement Golf Newsletter

Information to improve your golf game (December 2013)

Holiday Goodies!

Last year around this time I talked about the "2012 Pro Golf Synposis" written by Richie Hunt. Well, Richie recently published the 2013 version of this eBook, and it is a great read again. 284 pages of information on the performance of every PGA tour pro during 2013, suggestions for how to improve your golf game based on his evaluation of the tour pros - and much more. Cost is $10, and in my view well worth it for what you get. Here is the link:

     Link to Purchase 2013 Pro Golf Synopsis

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A few weeks ago, I ran across a campaign to raise funds for writing a new book on golf improvement called "Lowest Score Wins." This book will be written by David Wedzik and Erik Barzeski from Evolution Golf in Erie, PA. I have contributed to this campaign, and expect that the book they are writing will be worth having. I know Eric as an Edel putter fitter and user of the SAM PuttLab. If you are interested in getting a first edition copy of their book here is the link (I have no stake in this personally - just expecting it to be a valuable read):

     First Edition Copy of "Lowest Score Wins!"

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I have been waiting for the movie "The Short Game" - about the experiences of some 7 and 8 year old golfers who trained to play in the World Championships of Junior Golf. Not that I advocate competition at such a young age - but I really enjoyed watching this. It became available on Netfix on December 12. Here is a link to information on the movie if you are interested:

     Information and Trailer about "The Short Game" Movie

Putting Improvement and "The Quiet Eye"

About a year ago Glen Coombe - The Putting Doctor - trained me to use the SAM PuttLab by doing SAM sessions with golfers. He showed one of the golfers tested how to apply what he called The Quiet Eye. Recently, I decided to learn more about The Quiet Eye - and there is MUCH value in this process for improving your putting.

Dr. Joan Vickers from Calgary University originated the term The Quiet Eye. It refers to a gaze behavior she has observed immediately prior to aiming tasks. She wrote a textbook titled Perception, Cognition, and Decision Training - The Quiet Eye in Action. I am about half way through reading this book, and it is loaded with information on how The Quiet Eye can impact sports performance.

Alan Alda did a great video on PBS about application of The Quiet Eye in a number of sports, including golf putting. Dr. Vickers is part of the video, here is a link to it:

     Alan Alda PBS Quiet Eye Video

Dr. Vicker's studies show that putting can be improved by having a more specific focus on a single target, and by fixing their gaze in a specific location on the golf ball prior to hitting the putt (Quiet Eye). Here is a portion of her book where she discusses this:

     Dr. Joan Vickers The Quiet Eye in Putting

Sean Foley recently did a Golf Digest article where he discussed elements of the Quiet Eye in Putting (though he did not mention the term). Here is a link to a video of what he discussed:

     Sean Foley Putting Improvement Quiet Eye Video

I disagree with Sean Foley, though, with having a Quiet Eye dot on the top of the ball. Dr. Vickers says this is one possible location, but says the best location is on the back of the ball, near to where you are to make contact.

The Quiet Eye has been shown to be relevant to sports improvement in MANY sports. I suggest you investigate this - it can help your putting!

MOI and Balance Matching Article

More than a year ago, and in my book "The Fit Is IT!!..." I wrote that strongly believe that MOI club matching is an improvement of club swingweight matching. Nothing has happened since I wrote that, and continued using MOI matching in my club fiting, to change my mind. There has only been one instance since I started using MOI matching where a golfer preferred that his clubs be swingweight matched.

Last month Richie Hunt - who does the "3Jack Blog" - wrote an extensive article that discusses the principles behind MOI matching, how MOI is measured, how MOI fittings are done, and why he also believes MOI matching is the way to go for golfers. The link to this article is provided below:

3Jack Blog MOI and Balance Matching Article

In his article, Richie notes he has heard that one of the OEMs might be bringing out clubs that are MOI matched. That would be an interesting step forward - we will see! Until then, I hope you enjoy this article.

Testing for "8,000 RPM!"

Last month I posted a video from Trackman Maestro about how to hit a Low High Spinning Tour Pitch Shot. Here it is again:

Hitting the Low, High Spinning Tour Pitch Shot

If I can get 8 to 10 of you interested (or other golfers you know), I will host an "8,000 Tour Pitch Shot Day" at Centennial sometime in January. You will each get half an hour of time on my Flightscope - free of charge - so that you can work on hitting this shot. Please contact me by email if you are interested in this - should be fun!

And by the way - do you think that Zach Johnson was using this technique when he holed out on 18 at Tiger's tournament last week, watch this:

Zach Johnson Hole Out at Tiger World Challenge

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My new eBook - "10 Simple Putting Improvement Tasks That WORK!" is close to complete. I anticipate I will send the content to my copyrighter in early January, and so it should be available before the end of January. For at least one month, you will be able to download it for free from my web site. More in January.

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Happy Holidays to all of you!

Rooting For YOUR Golfing Success!!

Tony Wright

GAME IMPROVEMENT GOLF

Oak Ridge, TN

The PREMIER Short Game Fitting Center in East Tennessee!

tony@gameimprovementgolf.com