Why I Think Tiger is Splitting from Sean Foley

Does your swing match your body type? Tiger's didn't and in my opinion that's why he's splitting from Sean Foley. I think Tiger was looking for something less taxing on his back and Foley and his method is designed to be efficient and the least taxing on your back. This is not meant to be a knock on Foley, he is obviously brilliant, but he picked the wrong model for Tiger.

Tiger grew up as a rear post golfer, he loaded into his right side and fired into his left side. In studying Sean Foley's teaching model, he teaches a front post or more of a Stack and Tilt style golf swing. Stack and Tilt is really a front post procedure, a golfer who balances best off their lead hip and stays forward throughout the golf swing, which is believed to be the best procedure and least taxing on the spine. If you keep loading the lead hip and it's not your dominant procedure, it's going to start hurting and the pain will show up in the lower back. Remember the site of pain is not always the cause of pain. The problem is the golf swing is a full body motion. The spine is important and acts as the swing center of the golf swing. The hips are the power source for transferring power from the lower body to the upper body. Every part of the body is important and too much emphasis on one area of the body leads to a breakdown in another, which happened to Tiger.

I've seen Foley work with Tiger time and again trying to set his weight forward at the top of his backswing and Tiger keeps wanting to sway into his right side, a sign that he is seeking his natural movement pattern which is loading into his right side. It's a great swing for irons but not necessarily off the tee where power is more important. Let's face it, golf is a power game at the elite level. Those writing about how Tiger should go back to hitting fairways and sacrificing accuracy are crazy. How often do you hit your seven iron closer than your wedge? Would you give up 60-yards off the tee for? No way! There is a direct correlation to distance and scoring.

Athletes, especially Tiger, need to be healthy to practice. An injured athlete can't practice. If you can't practice, it's hard to build confidence. If you do not have confidence, you can't compete to the highest levels you're capable of.

I think Tiger should seek Mike Adams who teaches at his home course in Florida, The Medalist, or his younger counterpart, EA Titschler, and go back to his natural swing.

One of the reasons we asses golfers before giving them swing advice is to avoid building golf swings that are in the long run, detrimental to the health of the golfer. Playing a game should not hurt, if you're sore after a round of golf, chances are your procedure doesn't match your natural movement pattern.

If you haven't completed your "Discovering Your Natural Golf Swing Assessment" or know someone that is playing in pain, come see us!

PING G30 Now Available

Our new PING fitting equipment is in! Come out and try the new equipment! An emphasis on speed with no sacrifice in performance sets the new G30 standard and G30 SF Tec (Straight Flight Technology) drivers apart. To generate faster clubhead speed and ball velocity for longer drives, turbulators were engineered onto the crown of the 460cc heads. Proven in wind-tunnel testing to reduce aerodynamic drag and create efficient airflow, the added speed from Turbulator Technology provides measurable distance gains for all skill levels. At address, they create a captured appearance with the ball and assist with alignment and inspiration.

The G30 drivers' CG position is the lowest and farthest back of any PING model, ensuring optimal launch conditions and an even higher MOI in both axes for extreme forgiveness and maximum energy transfer. A new high-strength, lightweight T9S titanium face is thinner and hotter to optimize face deflection for faster ball speeds and longer drives. Another source of power is the TFC 419D high-balance-point shaft. The CG is closer to the grip end, allowing for a heavier head, which increases the MOI and contributes to the extremely low CG. The result is more energy, momentum and inertia for greater distance with accuracy.

The adjustable hosel has the same mass and outer diameter as PING's fixed hosels, providing the benefits of adjustability with no sacrifice in performance. Trajectory Tuning+ Technology offers five settings, allowing you to optimize your ball flight by increasing or reducing loft by 6/10ths of a degree or one full degree, to maximize distance and control. Settings are standard, +0.6°, +1°, -0.6°, and -1°. The G30 SF Tec driver is for golfers whose swing path produces tee shots right of their intended target. Weight is positioned near the heel to help square the face at impact. Combined with a lighter swingweight, these factors improved shot bend in player testing by 12 yards compared to the G30 standard driver, steering the ball into the fairway with unmatched consistency.

Schedule a fitting at www.GolfAchievement.com or by calling 952/401-4653. 

Playing Lesson Tips

This is the time of year that we conclude lesson packages with playing lessons. Here are the most common topics I've found after five playing lessons in the last few days, yes I have am living a dream.

Think Box Vs. Play Box- Think before you swing and plan your work and work your plan. Make your commitments and set your ONE swing thought from behind the ball. Enter the Play box prepared and focused on the target, not your golf swing.

Three part visualization- visualize the ball flying to the target, the trajectory and shape.


If you're right handed, your probably aiming too far right or your aiming your body at the target, not the club. Review the 10% rule.

Play more club than you need. Expect to hit your average shot, not your best shot. If you don't know your distances, come spend some time on the Flightscope and know your carry distances.

Breath from your belly to relax, not the upper part of your chest.

Golf is a game and games should be fun. Don't beat yourself up, you're not going to remember the third shot you took on the fifth hole a couple days from now and your playing partners will forget after they leave the parking lot! Enjoy the game and your company!

Remember this: People don't really care what you shoot, but they do care how you act!

$99 Three Day Junior Golf School

Brad Pluth and Kevin Williams will be provide our award winning Junior Golf Schools at Bluff Creek in Chanhassen, Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake/Blaine and Timber Creek in Watertown, MN.

The Junior Golf School programs are a great opportunity for the junior golfer to get a complete golf experience in less than a week. The focus of these sessions do not only focus on stance and grip, but fun group activities and games that teach the fundamentals, and movement prep each day. The last day is dedicated to playing on the course. This program is great for a group of friends to get together for a week, or for players wanting to meet new friends in a fun and safe learning environment.

Click here to register or call 952/401-4653 to register.

Fittings available at Bluff Creek, Majestic Oaks and Timber Creek. Call 952/401-4653 to schedule a time!

USA JUNIOR GOLF TEAM MINNESOTA

http://www.usajrgolf.com/team-midwest/